CPR Full Form – All You Need To Know about CPR

The CPR Full Form in English is Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, an emergency procedure used during cardiac arrest. It involves compressing the chest and administering breaths through mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

The American Heart Association recommends starting CPR with chest compressions alone. This hands-only CPR approach is advised for both untrained bystanders and those on the call.

If you’re hesitant about performing mouth-to-mouth or unsure how to do it correctly, remember that it’s always better to try than to do nothing. The choice to act could be a matter of life or death.

Key Facts:

• CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is a crucial first aid technique for individuals who are not breathing or whose heart has stopped.
• This lifesaving skill is accessible to everyone and can make a significant difference in emergencies.
• CPR consists of chest compressions and rescue breaths (mouth-to-mouth).
• Chest compressions are the most critical component of CPR; even if you are unable to perform rescue breaths, compressions alone can still be effective.
• An AED (automated external defibrillator) delivers an electric shock to restart the heart and should be used as soon as it is available.

What is CPR Full Form?

The CPR Full Form in English is Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, is a first aid technique used to revive someone who is not breathing or whose heart has stopped. It’s a valuable skill that anyone can learn, regardless of their medical background.

Staying calm is crucial when performing CPR. This technique could potentially save a life, whether it’s a family member, friend, or anyone in need. CPR involves a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths (mouth-to-mouth), aimed at circulating blood and oxygen throughout the body to keep the brain and vital organs functioning until professional medical help arrives.

When should I start CPR?

You should begin CPR immediately if a person is:

• Unconscious (unresponsive to you)
• Not breathing
• Breathing irregularly (such as gasping or grunting)

Before Starting CPR:

• Check the Environment:

  • Ensure the person is in a safe environment.

• Assess the Person:

  • Determine if the person is awake or unconscious.
  • If the person appears unconscious, ask loudly, “Are you OK?” and gently tap or shake their shoulder.

• Seek Assistance:

  • If there are others around:
    • Have one person call 112 (or the local emergency number) and obtain an AED if available.
    • Have the other person start CPR.

• If Alone:

  • Call 112 (or the local emergency number) immediately if you have access to a phone before starting CPR.
  • If an AED is available, use it as soon as possible.

• Using the AED:

  • Follow the AED’s instructions and deliver a shock if prompted.
  • After delivering the shock, immediately resume CPR.

How to perform CPR on adults:

For a detailed guide on performing CPR on adults, you can watch the instructional video from Royal Life Saving Australia. Additionally, refer to the DRS ABCD action plan and follow the step-by-step instructions provided.

How to Perform Chest Compressions on an Adult:

• Place the person on their back on a firm surface, such as the ground, and kneel beside their chest.
• Position the heel of one hand on the lower half of their breastbone, in the center of their chest.
• Place your other hand on top of the first and interlock your fingers.
• Position yourself directly above the person’s chest.
• Use your body weight, keeping your arms straight, to press down firmly on their chest. Compress their chest by about one-third of its depth.
• Release the pressure completely after each compression. One cycle of compression and release counts as one compression.
• Perform 30 chest compressions.

How to Give Mouth-to-Mouth to an Adult:

• Open the person’s airway by tilting their head back and lifting their chin. Place one hand on their forehead and the other hand under their chin to maintain the tilt.
• Pinch the soft part of their nose closed using your index finger and thumb.
• Open their mouth with your thumb and fingers.
• Take a deep breath, seal your lips around the person’s mouth, and blow steadily for about 1 second, watching for their chest to rise. Remove your mouth and observe their chest fall. Listen and feel for signs that air is escaping.
• Maintain the head tilt and chin lift position. Take another breath and repeat the process to give 2 breaths in total.
• If the chest does not rise, check their mouth for any blockages and ensure their head is tilted back properly. Make sure the seal between your mouth and theirs is tight, and the nose is pinched closed. Take another breath and repeat the breaths.

CPR for Adults:

Compression and Breath Ratio:

Perform 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths. This cycle is referred to as “30:2”. Aim to complete about 5 cycles of 30:2 within 2 minutes. If you are only performing compressions, target a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.

Continuation:

Continue with cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until:

The person shows signs of recovery, such as moving, breathing normally, coughing, or talking. Once they show signs of recovery, place them in the recovery position.

• You are too exhausted to continue.
• A healthcare professional arrives to take over CPR.
• A healthcare professional arrives and instructs you to stop CPR.

Maintaining Effectiveness:

Performing CPR can be very tiring. If possible, switch between giving breaths and performing compressions with minimal interruptions to maintain effective compressions.

Compression-Only CPR:

If you are unable to provide breaths, continuous chest compressions alone can still be lifesaving.

How to Perform CPR on Children Over 1 Year:

Follow these instructions if the child’s chest is too small for you to use both hands for chest compressions. If you can use both hands, refer to the adult CPR instructions above.

• Watch the instructional video from Royal Life Saving Australia on performing CPR on a child.
• Refer to the DRS ABCD action plan and follow the step-by-step instructions provided below.

How to Perform Chest Compressions on a Child Over 1 Year Old:

• Place the child on their back on a firm surface and kneel beside them.
• Position the heel of one hand on the lower half of the child’s breastbone, in the center of their chest. Depending on the size of the child and your strength, you may use one or two hands.
• Position yourself directly above the child’s chest.
• Keeping your arm(s) straight, press down on the child’s chest by about one-third of its depth.
• Release the pressure completely. Each push down and release counts as one compression.
• Perform compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.

How to Give Mouth-to-Mouth to a Child Over 1 Year Old:

• Open the child’s airway using a head tilt. Place one hand on the child’s forehead and the other under their chin to tilt their head back.
• Pinch the soft part of their nose closed with your index finger and thumb.
• Open the child’s mouth with your thumb and fingers.
• Take a deep breath, open your mouth, and place your lips over the child’s mouth, ensuring a good seal.
• Blow steadily into their mouth for about 1 second, enough to make their chest rise.
• After the breath, observe the child’s chest and watch for it to fall. Listen and feel for signs that air is being expelled. Maintain the head tilt and chin lift position.
• If the child’s chest does not rise, recheck the mouth for obstructions and remove any if present.
• Ensure the head is tilted and chin lifted to keep the airway open. Confirm that your mouth is well-sealed over the child’s mouth and their nose is pinched closed. Take another breath and repeat the process.

CPR for Children Over 1 Year Old:

Compression and Breath Ratio:

Perform 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths, known as “30:2”. Aim to complete approximately 5 cycles of 30:2 within 2 minutes. If you are only performing compressions, maintain a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.

Continuation:

Continue with cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until:

• The child shows signs of recovery, such as moving, breathing normally, coughing, or talking.
• Once they show recovery signs, place them in the recovery position.
• You are unable to continue due to exhaustion.
• A healthcare professional arrives to take over CPR.
• A healthcare professional arrives and instructs you to stop CPR.

Maintaining Effectiveness:

Performing CPR can be very tiring. If possible, switch between giving breaths and performing compressions with minimal interruption to ensure effective compressions.

Compression-Only CPR:

If you are unable to provide breaths, continuing with chest compressions alone may still be lifesaving.

How to Perform CPR on Infants Under 1 Year Old:

• Watch the instructional video from Royal Life Saving Australia for guidance on performing CPR on an infant.
• Refer to the DRS ABC action plan and follow the step-by-step instructions provided below.

DRSABCD ACTION PLAN

Letter	Representing	What to Do
D	Danger	Ensure the safety of the infant and everyone in the area. Do not put yourself or others at risk. Remove any immediate danger or move the infant if necessary.
R	Response	Check for a response from the infant by speaking loudly or gently squeezing their shoulders. Do not shake the infant.
S	Send for Help	If there is no response, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance or ask someone else to make the call. Do not leave the infant alone.
A	Airway	Open the infant’s mouth and check for blockages such as vomit or objects. If there are blockages, place the infant face down on your forearm with their mouth slightly downward and support their head. Use your little finger to remove any obstructions. Once cleared, open the airway by gently positioning their head into a neutral position (head and neck in line).
B	Breathing	Check if the infant is breathing by observing the movement of their lower chest or upper abdomen. Listen for air escaping from their nose and mouth, and feel for air movement at their mouth and nose. If the infant is not breathing normally and there is no response, place them on their back on a firm surface with their head in a neutral position. If they are breathing, place them in the recovery position on your forearm and monitor their airway, breathing, and responsiveness.
C	CPR	If the infant is not breathing normally, start CPR. Chest compressions are crucial and should be initiated as soon as possible after calling for help.

How to Perform Chest Compressions on an Infant Under 1 Year Old:

• Place the infant on their back on a firm surface.
• Locate the lower half of the breastbone in the center of the chest.
• Use two fingers to apply gentle pressure on the lower half of the breastbone.
• Press down on the chest to a depth of about one-third of its thickness. Depending on the infant’s size, you may use one hand for CPR.
• Release the pressure completely. Each push down and release counts as one compression.
• Perform 30 compressions.

How to Give Mouth-to-Mouth to an Infant Under 1 Year Old:

• Tilt the infant’s head back very slightly.
• Gently lift the infant’s chin without resting your hands on their throat, which could obstruct airflow.
• Take a breath and cover both the infant’s mouth and nose with your mouth, ensuring a good seal.
• Blow steadily into the infant’s mouth and nose for about 1 second, watching for their chest to rise.
• After giving the breath, turn your mouth away and observe the infant’s chest for it to fall. Listen and feel for signs that air is being expelled.
• Take another breath and repeat the process. This completes the 2 breaths.
• If the chest does not rise, recheck the mouth and nose for any obstructions and remove them if present. Ensure the head is in a neutral position to keep the airway open and maintain a tight seal around the mouth and nose to prevent air from escaping.

CPR for Children Under 1 Year Old:

Compression and Breath Ratio:

Perform 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths, referred to as “30:2”. Aim to complete about 5 cycles of 30:2 within 2 minutes. If you are only performing compressions, maintain a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.

Continuation:

Continue with cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until:

The infant shows signs of recovery, such as moving, breathing normally, coughing, crying, or responding. Once they show recovery signs, place them in the recovery position.

• You are unable to continue due to exhaustion.
• A healthcare professional arrives to take over CPR.
• A healthcare professional arrives and instructs you to stop CPR.

Maintaining Effectiveness:

Performing CPR can be very tiring. If possible, switch between giving breaths and performing compressions with minimal interruptions to ensure effective compressions.

Compression-Only CPR:

If you are unable to provide breaths, continuous chest compressions alone may still be lifesaving.

Using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED):

An AED can be a lifesaver in cases of sudden cardiac arrest (when the heart suddenly stops pumping). You don’t need specialized training to use it, as the AED provides voice prompts to guide you through its use.

Attach the AED:

As soon as it is available, turn on the AED and attach the pads to the person. Continue CPR until the AED is operational and the pads are properly placed.

Pad Placement:

• Follow the AED’s instructions for pad placement:
• Place the first pad below the right collarbone.
• Place the second pad on the left side under the armpit.
• Ensure the pads do not touch each other. Each pad has a picture indicating the correct placement.

Delivering the Shock:

Ensure that no one touches the person while the AED delivers a shock.

Age Considerations:

• Use a standard adult AED and pads for children over 8 years old.
• For children under 8, paediatric pads and an AED with a child setting are ideal. If these are not available, use the adult AED.
• Do not use an AED on children under 1 year of age.

CPR Training:

CPR training is available for individuals, families, workplaces, and community groups. Having first aid skills can significantly help in emergency situations.

St John Ambulance Australia:

Offers a range of first aid courses. Contact them at 1300 360 455.

Royal Life Saving Australia:

Provides first aid and resuscitation training across all states and territories.

Resources and Support:

• Learn more about cardiac arrest and defibrillators at NSW Health.
• Participate in a St John Ambulance Australia first aid course to enhance your life-saving skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does CPR Full Form?

The CPR Full Form in English is Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. It is a life-saving technique used in emergencies when someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped.

When should CPR be performed?

CPR should be performed when a person is unconscious, not breathing, or breathing abnormally (such as gasping). It is crucial to start CPR as soon as possible if someone shows these signs to improve their chances of survival.

What are the basic steps in performing CPR?

The basic steps for CPR include:

• Ensure the area is safe.
• Check the person for responsiveness and breathing.
• Call emergency services or have someone else call for help.
• Begin chest compressions and rescue breaths (if trained) or continue chest compressions only.
• Use an AED if available and follow its prompts.

Is CPR the same for adults, children, and infants?

CPR techniques vary slightly based on the age of the person:

Adults:

Perform 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths.

Children over 1 year:

Also use 30 compressions and 2 breaths, but with adjusted force and technique.

Infants under 1 year:

Use 2 fingers for compressions and deliver gentle breaths.

Do I need special training to perform CPR?

While anyone can perform CPR in an emergency, formal training is highly recommended. CPR courses teach proper techniques and increase confidence in performing CPR effectively. Many organizations, such as the Red Cross and St John Ambulance, offer CPR training programs.

conclusion

The CPR Full Form in English is Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a critical life-saving technique used in emergencies to help individuals whose breathing or heartbeat has stopped. Understanding the basics of CPR, including when and how to perform it, can make a significant difference in emergency situations. While the fundamental principles of CPR are consistent across different age groups, specific techniques vary for adults, children, and infants.

Training in CPR is highly recommended to ensure you can act confidently and effectively in an emergency. By familiarizing yourself with CPR procedures and participating in training courses, you can be better prepared to provide life-saving assistance when it is most needed.