Hands-Only CPR
FAQ from the American Heart Association
Q: What is hands-only CPR?
A. Hands-only CPR is CPR without rescue breaths. If you see a teen or adult collapse, call 911. Then, you can perform hands-only CPR. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of the Bee Gees’ classic disco song “Stayin’ Alive.” The song is 100 beats per minute – the minimum rate you should push on the chest during hands-only CPR.
Q: Why would you use hands-only CPR?
A. 70 percent of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home. If you’re called on to perform hands-only CPR, you’ll likely be trying to save the life of someone you know and love. Hands-only CPR carried out by a bystander has been shown to be as effective as CPR with breaths in the first few minutes during an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest in an adult.
Q: Does learning hands-only CPR increase the chance of a bystander taking action in a cardiac emergency?
A. Yes. Most Americans (70 percent) feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency because they don’t know how to give CPR or they’re afraid of hurting the victim. According to the American Heart Association, people are more likely to remember the correct pace when trained to the beat of the disco classic “Stayin’ Alive" or another familiar song with 100 to 120 beats per minute – again, the rate you should push on the chest during CPR.