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Practical Skills

CPR: The Skill That Can Save a Life

Ages 10–14 30 min read Intermediate

When someone's heart stops beating, every minute without CPR reduces their chance of survival by 10%. After 10 minutes without CPR, survival is unlikely. Bystander CPR — CPR performed by ordinary people before ambulance arrives — more than doubles the chance of survival.

This is the most important skill in this entire curriculum.

When to Start CPR

After completing DRSABCD and finding that the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, begin CPR immediately.

How to Perform CPR (Adult/Child over 1 year)

Compressions:

  1. Place the person on their back on a firm, flat surface.
  2. Kneel beside their chest.
  3. Place the heel of one hand on the centre of the chest (on the breastbone).
  4. Place your other hand on top. Interlace fingers.
  5. Keep arms straight, shoulders directly above hands.
  6. Push hard and fast: compress the chest at least 5cm deep (for adults).
  7. Rate: 100-120 compressions per minute (the beat of the song "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees).
  8. Allow the chest to fully recoil between compressions.

Rescue Breaths (if trained and willing):

  1. After 30 compressions, tilt the head back and lift the chin.
  2. Pinch the nose closed.
  3. Seal your mouth over theirs.
  4. Give 2 breaths, each over about 1 second. Watch for the chest to rise.

Ratio: 30 compressions : 2 breaths. Continue until help arrives, an AED is available, or the person starts breathing.

Compression-Only CPR

If you're untrained or unwilling to give rescue breaths, compression-only CPR is still effective and far better than doing nothing. Just push hard and fast on the centre of the chest without stopping.

Using an AED

  1. Turn on the AED. It will give voice instructions.
  2. Attach the pads to the person's bare chest as shown on the pads.
  3. Stand clear when the AED analyses the heart rhythm.
  4. If a shock is advised, ensure nobody is touching the person and press the shock button.
  5. Resume CPR immediately after the shock.

AEDs are found in shopping centres, airports, sports clubs, schools, and many workplaces. They're in white/green cabinets with a heart symbol.

Tonight's Question

"If someone collapsed right now, could anyone in our family perform CPR? What would we do?"

Walk through the steps together. This is worth practising.

CPR Practice

  1. Best option: Book a CPR course with St John Ambulance or Red Cross. Hands-on practice with a mannequin is the best way to learn.
  2. At home: Practise hand position and compression rhythm on a cushion or pillow.
  3. Use the beat of "Stayin' Alive" to get the right speed (100-120 bpm).
  4. Practise on each other (gently, without actually compressing) to learn hand placement.
  5. Find the nearest AED to your home. Walk there so you know how long it takes.

Go Further

  • Course: St John Ambulance CPR course — available in most areas, takes 2-3 hours, costs around $80-100.
  • App: St John AED Locations — find defibrillators near you.
  • Research: What is the survival rate for cardiac arrest with and without bystander CPR?
  • Question: Should CPR be a mandatory skill taught in every Australian school?

What We Simplified

  • Reading about CPR is not the same as practising it. The physical skill of effective chest compressions requires hands-on practice. Please take a course.
  • Infant CPR is different. Use two fingers instead of two hands. Compressions are shallower. The ratio is the same (30:2) but technique differs.
  • CPR guidelines are updated regularly. The Australian Resuscitation Council reviews guidelines periodically. Always follow the most current version.

Sources

  • Australian Resuscitation Council (2021). "ANZCOR Guideline 8: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation." ARC
  • St John Ambulance Australia. "CPR." St John
  • Heart Foundation. "Learn CPR." Heart Foundation

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