How to Perform Adult CPR in 7 Clear Steps

A person who suddenly collapses may be in cardiac arrest, and every minute without CPR and defibrillation can reduce the chance of survival. Knowing how to perform adult CPR gives you a clear job to do while emergency help is on the way: recognize the emergency, call for help, start high-quality compressions, and use an AED as soon as one arrives.

CPR is not a substitute for emergency medical care. It is the immediate bridge that keeps blood moving to the brain and heart until EMS professionals can take over. Whether you are a healthcare worker maintaining a required credential or a family member preparing for the unexpected, fast action matters more than perfect confidence.

How to Perform Adult CPR: 7 Clear Steps

Use these steps for an adult or adolescent who has collapsed and is unresponsive. If the scene is unsafe because of traffic, fire, electrical hazards, violence, or another danger, do not enter until you can do so safely.

1. Check that the scene is safe. Look for hazards before approaching. If it is safe, tap the person firmly on the shoulders and ask loudly, “Are you okay?”

2. Check for breathing and responsiveness. If the person does not respond and is not breathing normally, or is only gasping, treat it as cardiac arrest. Occasional gasping is not normal breathing. For trained healthcare professionals, check a pulse at the same time, but do not spend more than 10 seconds deciding.

3. Call 911 and get an AED. If another person is nearby, direct them specifically: “Call 911 and bring the AED.” Ask them to put the phone on speaker so the dispatcher can guide you. If you are alone with an adult, call 911 first, retrieve an AED if one is immediately available, and return to begin CPR.

4. Position the person on a firm, flat surface. Lay the person flat on their back. Kneel beside their chest. Place the heel of one hand in the center of the chest, on the lower half of the breastbone. Put your other hand on top and interlock your fingers or keep them lifted off the ribs.

5. Give 30 chest compressions. Position your shoulders directly over your hands. Keep your arms straight and press hard and fast at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Compress the chest at least 2 inches but no more than 2.4 inches deep. Let the chest fully recoil after every compression, and keep interruptions as short as possible.

6. Give 2 rescue breaths if you are trained and willing. After 30 compressions, open the airway with a head-tilt, chin-lift. Pinch the nose, create a seal over the person’s mouth, and give one breath for about one second. Watch for visible chest rise, then give a second breath. Return immediately to compressions. If the chest does not rise, reposition the head and try again before resuming compressions.

7. Use the AED immediately when it arrives. Turn it on and follow its voice prompts. Expose and dry the chest if needed, attach the pads as pictured, and make sure nobody is touching the person while the AED analyzes. If it advises a shock, loudly tell everyone to stand clear, deliver the shock, and restart CPR right away. If no shock is advised, resume CPR immediately.

Continue cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until the person shows signs of life, an AED or EMS team takes over, another trained rescuer replaces you, or you become physically unable to continue.

What High-Quality Adult CPR Looks Like

The difference between starting CPR and performing effective CPR comes down to compression quality. The goal is to circulate blood when the heart is not pumping effectively. Shallow, slow, or frequently interrupted compressions provide less support.

For adult CPR, press in the center of the chest at 100 to 120 compressions per minute. A useful rhythm is the beat of a familiar fast-paced song, but do not rely on music if it distracts you. Focus instead on a steady pace, adequate depth, full chest recoil, and minimal pauses.

Avoid leaning on the chest between compressions. Full recoil allows the heart to refill with blood. Also avoid pausing to repeatedly check for a pulse, repositioning the person unnecessarily, or waiting for rescue breaths before beginning compressions. When in doubt, start chest compressions and let 911 dispatchers guide the response.

If there are two trained rescuers, one person can provide compressions while the other manages breaths and the AED. Switch the person performing compressions about every two minutes, or sooner if fatigue is affecting depth or pace. Make the handoff quick so compressions do not stop for long.

Compression-Only CPR Is Better Than Waiting

Many bystanders hesitate because they are unsure about rescue breaths. If you are not trained, do not have a breathing barrier, or do not feel able to provide breaths, give hands-only CPR. Call 911, place your hands in the center of the chest, and provide continuous hard, fast compressions until help arrives or an AED is ready.

For a sudden adult collapse, hands-only CPR can be a practical and lifesaving response. Rescue breaths remain especially valuable when cardiac arrest may be caused by a breathing problem, such as drowning, overdose, choking after the obstruction has been cleared, or a respiratory emergency. Healthcare professionals and trained rescuers should provide breaths according to their training and workplace protocols.

Do not delay compressions while deciding whether you can provide breaths. The first priority is getting blood moving.

How to Use an AED With CPR

An automated external defibrillator, or AED, is designed to be used by the public. It checks the heart rhythm and advises whether a shock may help restore a rhythm that can produce a pulse. The device will not shock someone unless it detects a shockable rhythm.

As soon as the AED arrives, turn it on. Most devices provide direct voice instructions. Remove clothing from the chest, wipe away excessive water or sweat, and apply the adhesive pads exactly as shown in the diagram. One pad usually goes on the upper right side of the chest, while the other goes on the lower left side below the armpit.

If the chest is very hairy and pads will not stick, use the razor included in many AED kits or press a pad firmly, remove it quickly, and apply a new one. If the person has a medication patch where a pad must go, remove the patch with a gloved hand if possible and wipe the area. Keep pads away from an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator bump by placing the pad about an inch away.

During analysis and shock delivery, nobody should touch the person. Once the AED gives its instruction, immediately return to CPR. Do not wait to see whether the person wakes up after a shock.

Common CPR Mistakes to Avoid

The most common problem is waiting too long to act. A person who is unresponsive and only gasping needs emergency help and CPR, not time to “sleep it off.” Call 911 early and put the dispatcher on speaker whenever possible.

Other errors include compressing too softly, bending your elbows, stopping for long periods, and placing hands too low on the abdomen. Keep your hands centered on the chest, use your body weight, and minimize every pause. Broken ribs can occur during effective adult CPR. While that can be distressing, it should not stop you from continuing lifesaving compressions.

Do not give food, water, medication, or a pillow to an unresponsive person. Do not move them unless the environment is dangerous. If the person begins breathing normally but remains unconscious, place them on their side in a recovery position if you can do so safely, monitor their breathing, and stay with them until EMS arrives.

Training Builds Speed, Skill, and Confidence

Reading the steps is a strong start, but CPR is a hands-on skill. A quality course lets you practice correct hand placement, compression depth and rate, rescue breaths, AED operation, and team response under instructor guidance. That practice helps reduce hesitation when an emergency is real.

For healthcare professionals, current BLS training also supports workplace credential requirements and prepares you to respond within a clinical team. For parents, caregivers, and community members, CPR training makes a frightening moment more manageable by replacing uncertainty with a repeatable process. HealthForce Training Center offers convenient, instructor-led and blended pathways for learners who need practical skills validation and prompt proof of completion.

The best time to learn CPR is before you are standing beside someone who needs it. Schedule the training, practice the sequence, and keep an AED location in mind wherever you live, work, or care for others.