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What is CPR?

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.
I'm inviting you to share our vision: a world where no one dies from cardiac arrest. Every year more than 30,000 people have a cardiac arrest in the United Kingdom with a survival rate of less than 1 in 10. Big number. Bigger opportunity. With your help, we can bring that number down to zero.

Why Is CPR Important?

Immediate CPR can double or triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest.

Keeping the blood flow active, even partially, extends the opportunity for a successful resuscitation once trained medical staff arrive on site.

Chain of Survival

CPR is a critical step in the Chain of Survival. The term Chain of Survival provides a useful metaphor for the elements of the ECC systems concept.

Call 999
Early CPR
Rapid defibrillation
Advanced resuscitation by EMS
Post cardiac arrest care

A strong Chain of Survival can improve chances of survival and recovery for victims of cardiac arrest

How is CPR Performed?

There are two commonly known versions of CPR:

For healthcare providers: conventional CPR uses chest compressions and rescue breaths in a ratio of 30:2 compressions to breaths.
Chest compressions are performed at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute, at a depth of 2 inches for an average adult.
For the general public or bystanders: compression-only CPR or Hands-Only CPR is performed without rescue breaths
Call 999 (or send someone to do that) and push hard and fast in the centre of the chest.

About High-Quality CPR

High-quality CPR should be performed by anyone, including bystanders. There are five critical components:

Minimize interruptions in chest compressions
Provide compressions of adequate rate and depth
Avoid leaning on the victim between compressions
Ensure proper hand placement
Avoid excessive ventilation

For a visual of bystander CPR click Here

Even children can perform successful CPR

A recent study tested sixth graders and their capacity to use Hands-Only CPR to save lives. The study found that the majority of children could perform CPR in the correct location and at the appropriate compression rate, making this a viable group to train to help save lives. In fact, the American Heart Association has dedicated its CPR in Schools program and led the charge to make CPR training a high school graduation requirement in 34 states in the United States.

The Gender Difference: Men vs. Women

According to a study released by the Resuscitation Science Symposium, men are more likely to receive bystander CPR in public locations compared to women.

Women and men receive similar CPR assistance within the home, but in public, 45 percent of men received assistance compared to only 39 percent of women.
Men were 1.23 times more likely to receive bystander CPR in public, and their chance of survival was 23 percent higher compared to women.

So why the discrepancy? It could come down to anatomy and a bystander being comfortable enough to perform CPR on a woman.

Heart Attack vs. Cardiac Arrest

The difference you should know

What is a Cardiac Arrest?

Occurs when the heart malfunctions and stops beating unexpectedly. Cardiac Arrest is an ELECTRICAL problem.

What is a Heart Attack?

Occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked. The heart attack is a CIRCULATION problem. It may lead to a cardiac arrest.

Find a course

If you are interested in taking a course to learn the lifesaving skills of CPR, use the Find A Course Tool to locate a Training Centre near you.

Coded by Rosie Pryor