Section III. PERFORMING CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION
3-17. CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) allows the rescuer to cause the person's
heart to pump blood and his lungs to process oxygen. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is
seldom used in combat. It is primarily used in everyday life when a person has a heart
attack and falls unconscious.
3-18. PRELIMINARY MEASURES
The following are performed when you find a person before beginning CPR. If
you have already performed these measures (previous sections), do not repeat them.
a. Check for Responsiveness. Ask in a loud, but calm voice, "Are you okay?'
Gently shake or tap the person on the shoulder. If the person does not respond,
position the person on his back and send someone to get medical help.
b. Open the Airway. Open the person's airway using the head-tilt/chin-lift or the
jaw thrust, as appropriate. If a spinal injury is suspected, use the jaw-thrust method.
c. Check for Breathing. Place your ear an inch above the person's mouth and
look, listen, and feel for breathing.
d. Administer Two Full Breaths. If the person is not breathing, administer two
full ventilations. If the ventilations are not successful (chest does not rise and fall),
reposition the person's head to increase the airway and administer two more breaths. If
the second attempt fails, perform abdominal or chest thrusts to remove the blockage.
e. Check Pulse. Once the airway is open and breaths have been administered,
check the person's pulse. If there is a pulse, continue rescue breathing efforts. If there
is no pulse, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
3-19. CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION
Once you have determined that the person has no pulse, CPR is required.
a. Perform Chest Compressions.
(1)
Place the person on a hard, flat surface.
(2) Locate the compression site using the same methods as locating the
compression site for chest thrusts on an unconscious person.
MD0877
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