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How to do CPR

3 steps to save a life: check, call, CPR

A CPR manikin on its back on the ground, with the knees of two people on either side

If you see someone has collapsed, their heart may have suddenly stopped beating, and their breathing may be abnormal or has stopped.  You need to act fast so they can have the best chance of survival. Without quick action, the person will die.

How to do CPR

By developing the skills and confidence to follow these simple steps, you could be a lifesaver in an emergency. 

Before you approach the person who has collapsed, check your surroundings for danger. 

1. Check for a response

  • Shout for help and gently shake the person who has collapsed to check for a response.  

2. Call 999 

  • Put the phone on loudspeaker and tell them you are with someone who has collapsed and is not responding. 

3. Look and listen for signs of normal breathing

  • Look for the rise and fall of their chest.  
  • The ambulance call handler will help you check for signs of normal breathing. 

4. Start chest compressions 

  • Interlock your fingers.
  • Place your hands in the centre of the chest.
  • Push down hard and then release twice per second, and don’t stop.

The ambulance call handler will help you.

5. Rescue breaths

  • If you have been trained to provide rescue breaths, alternate 30 chest compressions with 2 rescue breaths.
  • When providing rescue breaths, deliver just enough air to make the chest start to rise; avoid excessive ventilation.
  • If you are unable to ventilate the chest after 2 attempts, consider foreign body airway obstruction (refer to first aid).
  • If you are not trained to provide rescue breaths, perform continuous chest compressions without interruptions. 

6. The ambulance call handler will tell you where the nearest automated external defibrillator (AED) is. If someone is with you, ask them to fetch it and bring it back.

7. If you have a defibrillator, switch it on and follow the instructions

  • Follow the audio/visual prompts from the defibrillator. It will tell you exactly what to do.  
  • Attach the electrode pads to the person’s bare chest. Ensure the pad on the person’s left side is attached directly under the armpit.
Image
correct defib pad placement demonstrated on male and female body
  • If the person is wearing a bra, place the pads in the correct position under the fabric of the bra. If the bra interferes with correctly locating the pad position, then the bra should be removed.
  • If more than one rescuer is present, continue CPR while the pads are being attached.
  • Visit our defibrillator page for more information about defibrillators. 

8. Continue CPR

Continue giving CPR until:

  • the AED asks you to pause while it re-analyses and gives another shock if needed
  • an ambulance crew arrives and tells you what to do
  • the person shows signs of life. 

Check for danger, then immediately follow these steps to give a baby (aged 0-12 months) CPR. 

1. Check for response

  • Call the baby's name and tap the bottom of their feet to see if they respond. If there's no response, shout for people nearby who may be able to help.

2. Call 999

  • Put the phone on loudspeaker and tell them you are with a baby who is not responding.

3. The ambulance call handler will tell you what to do

4. Look and listen for signs of normal breathing 

  • Open the baby's airway by lifting the chin with two fingers and tilting the head back so that it's in a neutral position (not too close to the chest, and not too arched).
  • Look for the rise and fall of their chest, and listen for normal breathing by putting your ear close to the baby's mouth. Do this for no longer than 10 seconds.

5. Give five rescue breaths

  • Cover the baby's mouth and nose with your mouth to create a seal.
  • Blow into their mouth and nose for one second, just enough to see their chest rise, then release and watch their chest fall.
  • Repeat this five times. 

6. Start chest compressions

  • Use the two-thumb encircling technique for infants: place both thumbs together in the centre of the chest with the hands encircling the chest and fingers on the baby’s back.
  • Push down about a third of the depth of the chest (4 cm) and then release.
  • Repeat the chest compressions (using thumbs) thirty times twice per second.
  • After 30 compressions, give two breaths.
  • Continue with 30 compressions and two breaths.  
  • The ambulance caller will help you.
  • Use the one-hand or two-hand technique in children older than 1 year, or when unable to give high-quality chest compressions with the two-thumb-encircling technique. 

7. Continue CPR 

  • Continue giving the baby CPR until the ambulance arrives and tells you what to do, or the baby shows signs of life. 

Check for danger, then immediately follow these steps to give a child (aged 1-18) CPR.

1. Check for response

  • Call their name and firmly tap them on their shoulders to see if they respond. If there's no response, shout for people nearby who may be able to help.

2. Call 999

  • Put the phone on loudspeaker and tell them you are with a child who is not responding.

3. The ambulance call handler will tell you what to do

4. Look and listen for signs of normal breathing 

  • Open the child's airway by lifting the chin with two fingers and tilting the head back slightly so it's in the 'sniffing' position.
  • Look for the rise and fall of their chest, and listen for normal breathing by putting your ear close to their mouth. Do this for no longer than 10 seconds.

5. Give five rescue breaths

  • Pinch their nose and cover their mouth with your mouth to create a seal.
  • Blow into their mouth for one second, just enough to see their chest rise, then release and watch their chest fall.
  • Repeat this five times. 

6. Start chest compressions

  • Place the heel of your hand in the centre of the chest; for larger children, you may need to use two hands.
  • Lift your fingers to ensure pressure is not applied over the ribs.
  • Push down about a third of the depth of the chest (5 cm), then release.
  • Repeat chest compressions 30 times, twice per second.
  • After 30 compressions, give two breaths.
  • Continue with 30 compressions and two breaths.
  • If you are specifically trained in paediatric basic life support, use a compression-to-ventilation ratio of 15:2. 

7. Continue CPR 

  • Continue giving the child CPR until the ambulance arrives and tells you what to do, or the child shows signs of life. 
Know the steps to CPR?
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What’s the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest?

These terms are generally used interchangeably, but they are two different events.

A heart attack occurs when an artery supplying the heart with blood becomes blocked. This usually causes chest pain and leads to damage to some of the muscle of the heart. Some people may also experience neck and jaw pain, and arm pain – for some, this may also feel like indigestion.

A heart attack may cause cardiac arrest, particularly in the early stages, but this is not inevitable. The risk of cardiac arrest, however, emphasises the importance of calling for immediate help if anyone is suspected of having a heart attack so that they can receive treatment to reduce the damage to their heart and reduce the risk of a cardiac arrest occurring.

A cardiac arrest happens when someone’s heart suddenly stops beating, and their breathing is abnormal or has stopped. It is an electrical problem caused by irregular heart rhythms called arrhythmias. Death occurs within minutes after the heart stops.

More ways to learn CPR
Children learn about CPR and defibrillation

Restart a Heart

Every year, communities in the UK and worldwide become CPR-ready. Will you join them, and learn CPR on or around October 16?

Teens surround their friend who has had a cardiac arrest

Lifesaver learning

Step inside; save a life. Immerse yourself in realistic cardiac arrest scenarios, where you’ll learn lifesaving CPR skills.

A close up of someone pushing on someone else's chest

Flier - how to do CPR

Download our flier, which shows the simple steps you need to take to perform CPR. Perfect for printing and sharing with friends, family and your wider community.

A still from the Bengali CPR video

CPR language resources

Our language fliers and animation videos demonstrate how to do CPR in a range of languages.

Defib Dani with text saying 'Hi, I'm Defib Dani'

Defib Dani

Watch our animation to gain confidence in using a public access defibrillator.

Image of the front cover of Aaron's Heart book

Order your free baby and child CPR book

Order your free baby and child CPR book now and learn the skills to save a child's life.

Additional resources

Publication - CPR, AEDs and the Law: This document aims to clarify, where possible, the obligations and responsibilities of those who attempt resuscitation in anyone suffering a suspected cardiac arrest. It also provides guidance for organisations that are contemplating providing equipment and training for those who might use it.

Publication - A guide to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs): This guide provides information about automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and how they can be used anywhere, by anyone, to try to save the life of a person who has a cardiac arrest.