How to perform CPR on a child or adult

With COVID-19 woes being at the forefront of everyone’s mind, it’s therapeutic to daydream about happier times ahead. The summer is coming up, and let’s hope things will be a little more normal by then. Let’s imagine, shall we? The sun is bright, the water in the pool is cool and refreshing, and we can actually socialize again! The kids are splashing in the pool, while the adults enjoy some much needed time to catch up with each other. Suddenly, the mood shifts. Everyone is looking at the pool deck, where an 8-year-old girl lies still and stiff.

No one wants to imagine this undesirable scene, but it’s important for every pool owner to learn the life-saving skill of CPR in order to avoid an even more tragic scenario. Human nature is to put yourself in a bubble, thinking, “that will never happen to me.” However, in a time where the unexpected has dramatically changed our lives, it just makes sense to be prepared and educated.

CPR – or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation – is an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating. Immediate CPR can double or triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest, according to the American Heart Association.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can occur without warning; there’s a reason the word sudden is in the name! It is an abrupt loss of heart function, and many times includes the loss of breathing and consciousness. Although sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death among adults in the United States, it also impacts children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 2,000 young, seemingly healthy people under the age of 25 who die from sudden cardiac arrest in the United States each year.

Don’t fret, nobody needs another doomsday situation to add to their brain right now. Learning CPR is one way you can feel more empowered if sudden cardiac arrest suddenly finds it’s way into your life. CPR is actually quite simple to learn once you know the basic structure.

Step 1: Assess the scene; ensure your safety

First and foremost, always make sure you are safe. Think of the reminder during an airplane safety demo - put on your oxygen mask first before helping others. It may seem silly, but many well-meaning people will accidentally harm themselves in the process of trying to help the victim. In my CPR training we would ask the question, “is the scene secure?” This just means to look out for anything dangerous - broken glass, standing water puddles, etc. You should also always put on gloves to avoid any direct contact with bodily fluids before helping a victim. Once gloves are on and the scene is secure, tap the victim and shout, “Hey! Hey! Are you okay?” During this step it is also imperative to assign someone to call 911 and report back. Even though you intend to do CPR, the sooner medical officials are called, the better. Say something like, “Hey George! You go call 911 and come back.” Make sure the victim is on a firm, flat surface, then check their pulse by placing two fingers to the carotid artery on the neck. Do not spend more than 10 seconds attempting to check the pulse. Begin CPR if you cannot locate or are unsure of a pulse.

Step 2: Begin CPR using C-A-B method

C= Compression's

For chest compressions on children and adults, extend your arms straight, place one hand on top of the other with fingers interlocked. Press your stacked hands down 2 to 2.4 inches in the center of the chest. Give compressions at a rate of 30:2 chest compressions to breaths, which should be about 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Make sure the chest rises back up completely after each compression.

A= Airway

Remove any obstructions from the victim’s airway by performing a quick finger sweep in the mouth. Then, open the victim’s airway by tilting the head back, lifting the chin, and pinching the nose.

B= Breath

Give two rescue breaths by exhaling completely into the victim’s mouth, for one second during each breath. Make sure the chest rises and falls between each breath. If the breaths you give do not go in, continue to give chest compressions at the 30:2 ratio until the breaths go in. Do not interrupt compressions for more than 10 seconds.

Step 3: Repeat and Reassess

Continue to repeat the cycle of 30:2 compressions to breaths, remembering to give at least 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Perform CPR until EMS arrives, or the person starts to breathe on their own or show signs of life (coughing, moving, etc.).

If the victim begins to breathe, roll them gently onto their side, while protecting the head and neck, into a recovery position. Keep a close eye out for any vomit or fluids draining from the victim’s mouth, so they do not choke.

Learning CPR may seem daunting at first, but anyone (including children) can learn this life-saving skill with some practice. I first learned CPR as a lifeguard when I was in high school. I thought it was almost absurd how many times we repeated the CPR steps during the training, but now I am thankful for all that repetition. I can pretty much recite the steps in my sleep, which makes me confident that in an emergency situation, where adrenaline would likely cloud my common sense, I would know exactly what to do.

Role playing different emergency scenarios is another way to really feel confident when learning CPR. Get up and physically act out the C-A-B method, using a doll or CPR dummy of course, with all members of your family. Change up the scenario or script each time to make sure you know what to do for various situations. Watchvideos online for visual learning opportunities.

The best way to ensure proper CPR training is to attend a training course or online training. Try searching on the American Red Crosswebsite or the affordablevirtual training through American Health Care Academy to find what works best for you.

Candace Suchma’s bio:

Swim Instructor in Austin, TX

I’ve been a teacher for the past 9 years in Hays CISD and Austin ISD. I’ve taught swim lessons since I was in college to kids of all ages. Swimming is one of my greatest joys, and you’ll find me in my backyard pool every chance I get. I love teaching swim lessons so I can share my passion of being in the water. My goal is to help students feel safe and confident in the pool, so they can focus on having fun. I have a degree in finance from Texas A&M University and I love yoga and fostering dogs.