CPR

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CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

C = cardiac (heart)
P = pulmonary (lungs)
R = resuscitation (to recover)

Adult is puberty and older.
Child is one year old to puberty.
Infant is up to a year old.

Check for response

1. Support the head and neck, then turn the person so they lay flat, face-up, on a hard surface.
   
2. Tap and shout, "Are you okay?"
3. If no response, yell, "Help!"
   • If someone comes:
     • Send person to call 911 and get automatic external defibrillator (AED) if available.
   • If no one comes:
     • Infant/child: If no one comes and you are unable to immediately call 911, perform 2 minutes of CPR before calling 911. Get AED if available.
     • Adult: Call 911 and get AED if available, then start CPR.
4. Check for no breathing or no normal breathing (such as gasping) for 5 to 10 seconds:

C - Chest Presses

Quickly open chest clothing.

Adult:

• Put the heel of one hand between the nipples on the lower half of breastbone.
• Put the other hand over the first, keeping your fingers off the chest and your elbows straight.
  

Child:

• Put the heel of one hand between the nipples on the lower half of the breastbone. (Put other hand on top if needed.)
  

Infant:

• Cup your hands around the chest with both hands, thumbs meeting in the center of the chest on the breastbone, just below the nipple line. Make sure your thumbs are not pressing the bottom end of the breast bone.

• OR press with the heel of one hand in the center of the chest on the breastbone, just below the nipple line. Make sure your hand is not pressing the bottom end of the breastbone. 

Push hard and fast:

• Push straight down
• 1/3 the depth of the chest
• 2 inches deep for an adult or child
• About 1½ inches deep for infants.
• 30 pushes at a rate of 100-120 per minute
• Let chest come up after each push

Use AED as soon as it is available.

A - Airway

Open airway with a head-tilt/chin-lift method.

If you do not feel comfortable delivering breaths to a person, continue to do chest presses.

B - Breathing

• Seal the mouth with your mouth. Pinch the nose for child and adult
• Seal over mouth and nose with your mouth for infants.
• Give 2 breaths, just enough to make the chest rise (about 1 second each)

• If chest does not rise, reposition the head and try 2 more breaths. If the chest still does not rise, the airway is blocked. Continue chest presses, but look in the airway before giving the next breaths. If you see something, remove it.

Continue CPR cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until the person responds (starts to move) or until trained help takes over. If another person can give CPR is with you, take turns every 5 cycles or about 2 minutes.

If breathing but not responding:

• Stop CPR.
• Watch the breathing until trained help arrives.
• If no injuries, roll the person onto one side. Do not twist the head, neck, or body while rolling.
• Even if breathing and responding, the person should be taken to the nearest emergency room by ambulance.

Important

This sheet is a review of techniques taught in a CPR class. It is not complete in itself. You must practice these techniques on a manikin with an instructor. Do not practice techniques on a person. 

CPR Quick reference

C - Check for response
Turn on back on hard surface. Tap and shout, “Are you OK?” Alert: Call 911 for adults; perform 2 minutes of CPR before calling 911 for infants and children. Get AED if available. Check for normal or no breathing. If not breathing normally, do chest pushes. Chest pushes: Open chest clothing. Adult: Put the heel of 1 hand between the nipples on the breastbone. Put other hand on top of the first. Child: Put the heel of one hand between the nipples on the breastbone. Put other hand on top of the first if needed. Infant: Cup your hands around the chest with both hands, thumbs meeting in the center of the chest on the breastbone, just below the nipple line. Make sure your thumbs are not pressing the bottom end of the breastbone. OR put the heel of one hand on the breastbone, press just below the nipple line (not pressing the bottom end of the breastbone). Push hard and fast: - 2 inches deep for adult/child - 1/3 the depth of the chest for an infant (about 1 ½ inches) - 30 pushes at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute Use AED as soon as it is available.
A - Airway
Open with head-tilt / chin-lift
B - Breathing
Give 2 breaths followed by 30 chest pushes. If chest does not rise, continue chest pushes, but each time you open the airway to give breaths, look in the mouth. Remove any object if one is seen. Do CPR until person is responding, or until trained help takes over.

Family and Friends CPR Program

Children's Minnesota offers a FREE CPR program for family and friends. To sign up, call 651-220-5279 and press #1 for Minneapolis campus and #2 for the St. Paul campus.

Questions?

This information is not specific to your child but provides general information. If you have any questions, please call your clinic or health care professional.

Reviewed 3/2026

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