First Aid procedures: resuscitating adults

What is it?

This technique is for an adult casualty who is unresponsive and isn't breathing normally.

Actions

Check for vital signs

• Check for response - gently shake casualty's shoulder and ask if they're all right
• If there's no response, shout for help and open casualty's airway
• Check for breathing - look for chest movement, listen for sounds of breathing and feel for casualty's breath on your cheek
• Do this for ten seconds

If the person is not breathing normally, you must call an ambulance and then start CPR which is a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths

Giving chest compressions

• Place your hands on centre of casualty's chest and, with the heel of your hands (which should be linked one over the other), press down 30 times
• Depress chest 5 to 6cms
• Do this at a rate of 100 to 120 times a minute

Giving rescue breaths

• Open the airway, gently tilt the head back and lift the chin
• Pinch the person's nose; place your mouth over their mouth and – by blowing steadily – attempt 2 rescue breaths each lasting one second
• Give two rescue breaths

Continue this sequence of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths until emergency help arrives or the person shows signs of regaining consciousness (such as coughing, opening their eyes, speaking or moving purposefully and starting to breathe normally).

See resuscitating babies or resuscitating children if the casualty is not an adult.

If you are unable or unwilling to give rescue breaths give chest compressions alone.

Download our flowchart on the actions to take at the scene of accident (PDF) if you discover someone unconscious.

The British Red Cross last medically reviewed this article in May 2011.