What Does CPR Stand For? A UK Guide to Adult CPR
First Aid
CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is an emergency treatment for someone who is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Chest compressions maintain limited blood flow to the brain and other vital organs while an automated external defibrillator (AED) and professional help are arranged.
This article provides an educational summary of current UK adult basic life support guidance. It does not replace practical training or instructions from an ambulance call handler. If an emergency is happening now, call 999 or 112 and follow the call handler’s directions.
Adult CPR emergency checklist
- Make sure it is safe to approach.
- Check whether the person responds.
- If they are unresponsive, call 999 or 112 immediately. Put your phone on speaker.
- While waiting for the call to be answered, open the airway and check for normal breathing. Do not spend more than 10 seconds doing this.
- If breathing is abnormal, tell the call handler and start chest compressions without delay.
- Press in the centre of the chest, 5 to 6 cm deep, at 100 to 120 compressions a minute.
- If trained and willing, give 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. Otherwise, continue chest compressions.
- Ask a helper to fetch an AED, then use it as soon as it arrives.
Gasping, irregular or noisy breaths are not normal breathing. Do not delay the emergency call to check breathing or look for a pulse. This sequence follows UK adult life support guidance from Resuscitation Council UK.
What does cardiopulmonary resuscitation mean?
Cardio
“Cardio” relates to the heart. During cardiac arrest, the heart is no longer pumping blood effectively around the body. The person becomes unresponsive and stops breathing normally.
Pulmonary
“Pulmonary” relates to the lungs. Rescue breaths put oxygen into the lungs, while chest compressions help move some oxygenated blood to vital organs.
Resuscitation
“Resuscitation” describes emergency attempts to restore or support vital functions. CPR buys time. It does not usually restart the heart by itself. An AED can deliver a shock if it detects a heart rhythm that may respond to defibrillation, while ambulance clinicians can provide advanced treatment.
There is no reliable time limit after which resuscitation is always impossible. Call for help and start CPR promptly when instructed, continuing until a recognised reason to stop applies.
When should you start CPR?
Begin by checking that it is safe to approach and trying to get a response. If the adult is unresponsive, call 999 or 112 immediately. Use speakerphone so you can assess breathing while waiting for the call to be answered and continue following the call handler’s instructions.
Start adult CPR if the person is both:
- unresponsive, and
- not breathing normally.
Occasional gasps can occur during cardiac arrest. They may sound laboured, snoring or irregular, but they are not normal breathing. If you are unsure, tell the call handler exactly what you see and hear. They can help assess the situation and coach you through CPR.
If the person is unconscious but breathing normally, do not give CPR. Follow the call handler’s instructions. If appropriate, they may tell you to place the person in the recovery position and continue checking their breathing.
CPR can expose a rescuer to bodily fluids. Use protective equipment if it is immediately available, but do not delay the emergency call or chest compressions to search for it.
How to perform adult CPR
1. Check for danger and responsiveness
Look for hazards such as traffic, fire, electricity or falling debris. Do not put yourself or other people in danger. Approach the person, speak loudly and gently shake their shoulders. Ask, “Are you all right?”
2. Call 999 or 112 immediately
If the person does not respond, call 999 or 112 without delay. Put your phone on speaker so your hands remain free and you can follow the ambulance call handler’s instructions.
If another person is present, ask them to make the call and bring an AED. Be specific so the tasks are completed quickly. If you are alone, do not leave the casualty to search for an AED unless the call handler directs you to do so.
3. Assess breathing while waiting for an answer
Open the airway by placing one hand on the forehead and gently tilting the head back. Lift the chin with two fingertips. Look, listen and feel for normal breathing, but take no more than 10 seconds.
Do not check for a pulse. Members of the public should identify suspected cardiac arrest from unresponsiveness and the absence of normal breathing. Tell the call handler if the person is gasping or breathing irregularly.
4. Give 30 chest compressions
If the person is not breathing normally, start compressions immediately:
- Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest, on the lower half of the breastbone.
- Place your other hand on top and interlock your fingers.
- Keep your arms straight and position your shoulders above your hands.
- Press down 5 to 6 cm, then allow the chest to rise fully while keeping your hands in position.
- Give compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 a minute.
- Keep interruptions as short as possible.
Rate is only one part of effective CPR. Correct depth, full chest recoil and minimal interruptions also matter. If another capable rescuer is available, consider changing over about every two minutes when fatigue affects compression quality. Keep the handover brief.
5. Give 2 rescue breaths if trained and willing
After 30 compressions, open the airway using a head tilt and chin lift. Pinch the nose closed, make a seal over the person’s mouth and blow steadily for about one second, watching for the chest to rise. Let the chest fall, then give a second breath.
Do not spend more than 10 seconds giving both breaths. If the first breath does not make the chest rise, reposition the head and improve the seal before trying once more. Return promptly to compressions.
Continue cycles of 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths.
Compression-only CPR
If you are not trained, cannot give effective breaths or are unwilling to provide mouth-to-mouth ventilation, give continuous chest compressions at 100 to 120 a minute. Follow the ambulance call handler’s instructions.
Rescue breaths are especially important when cardiac arrest is associated with drowning or another breathing problem. They are also important for babies and children. Paediatric techniques differ, so consult the official paediatric life support guidance for education and always follow the call handler during an emergency.
How to use an AED safely
An AED analyses the heart rhythm and only recommends a shock when it detects a rhythm that may respond. The rescuer does not need to diagnose the rhythm.
- Switch on the AED and follow its spoken or visual prompts.
- Expose the chest and attach the pads exactly as shown on their packaging.
- If the chest is wet, dry it quickly before attaching the pads.
- Make sure nobody is touching the person while the AED analyses the rhythm.
- If a shock is advised, clearly tell everyone to stand back. Deliver it if the device asks you to press a button.
- Resume CPR immediately when instructed, beginning with chest compressions.
Continue following the device’s prompts. Do not remove its pads unless emergency professionals tell you to do so. Resuscitation Council UK’s public AED information also explains why anyone can use these devices.
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When should you stop CPR?
Continue CPR until one of the following applies:
- ambulance clinicians or another appropriately trained professional take over;
- the person shows clear signs of life and begins breathing normally;
- the ambulance call handler tells you to stop;
- the scene becomes unsafe; or
- you become physically unable to continue.
If the person begins breathing normally but remains unconscious, follow the call handler’s instructions and continue monitoring them. Be prepared to restart CPR if normal breathing stops.
Cardiac arrest and heart attack are different
Cardiac arrest means the heart has stopped pumping blood effectively. The person becomes unresponsive and does not breathe normally. An immediate emergency call, CPR and an AED are needed.
A heart attack usually occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked. The person may remain conscious and breathe normally. Possible symptoms include chest pressure or pain, pain spreading to an arm or jaw, sweating, nausea and shortness of breath.
Call 999 for a suspected heart attack. Do not perform CPR while the person is responsive and breathing normally, but monitor them because a heart attack can lead to cardiac arrest. The NHS heart attack guidance describes symptoms and immediate action.
Why immediate action matters
When cardiac arrest stops effective circulation, the brain and other organs no longer receive the blood flow they need. CPR cannot reproduce the heart’s normal output, but good chest compressions can maintain limited circulation while an AED and professional treatment are arranged.
A useful adult CPR number check is:
- 100 to 120: chest compressions per minute.
- 5 to 6 cm: adult compression depth.
- 30:2: compressions to rescue breaths for a trained and willing rescuer.
- 10 seconds: the maximum time used to assess breathing.
These figures apply to adult CPR and should not be transferred automatically to babies, children or special clinical circumstances. Early recognition, an immediate emergency call, prompt CPR and early defibrillation form a connected response. No step should cause an avoidable delay in the next.
A brief history of CPR
Modern CPR developed through several advances rather than one single discovery. Research into mouth-to-mouth ventilation and external chest compressions was brought together around 1960. Defibrillation methods also developed over time, helping form the combined approach used today.
Resuscitation practice continues to change as evidence is reviewed. An account of the key developments is available in the history of CPR published by Resuscitation Council UK. The practical lesson remains that members of the public can maintain some circulation while an AED and emergency clinicians are on their way.
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Learn CPR through practical training
Reading helps you understand the sequence, but it cannot teach the physical feel of correct compression depth, recoil, hand position and ventilation. Practical training lets you practise on a manikin and receive feedback from a competent instructor.
Choose training suited to your responsibilities and workplace. Refresh it at the interval required by your employer, awarding organisation or professional body. People interested in emergency care careers can also read about how to become a paramedic, although paramedic education is distinct from public CPR training.
Frequently asked questions
What does CAB mean in CPR?
CAB means compressions, airway and breathing. It describes the emphasis on beginning chest compressions promptly before giving rescue breaths. In the current public response sequence, however, an unresponsive person’s rescuer should call 999 immediately, then assess breathing while waiting for the call to be answered.
Can CPR restart the heart?
CPR does not usually restart the heart. It maintains limited circulation to vital organs. An AED may correct certain shockable rhythms, while ambulance clinicians can provide advanced resuscitation treatment.
Can CPR break ribs?
Rib or breastbone injuries can occur during effective CPR, especially in older adults. Do not stop solely because you hear or feel a crack. Check that your hands remain in the centre of the chest, continue compressions and follow the call handler’s instructions.
What does the P in CPR stand for?
The P stands for pulmonary, meaning related to the lungs.
What does BLS stand for?
BLS stands for basic life support. It includes recognising cardiac arrest, calling for emergency help, performing CPR and using an AED.
Should I give breaths or compression-only CPR?
Give 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths if you are trained and willing. Otherwise, give continuous chest compressions. Follow the ambulance call handler’s instructions. Drowning, paediatric and other special circumstances may require a different approach.
Is CPR different for babies and children?
Yes. Hand position, compression technique, depth and the importance of rescue breaths vary with age. Do not rely on this adult guide for paediatric CPR. Call 999 or 112 immediately and follow the call handler’s instructions.
Should I check for a pulse before CPR?
No. Members of the public should not delay action by trying to find a pulse. If the person is unresponsive, call 999 or 112 immediately. Assess breathing while waiting for an answer and begin CPR if breathing is not normal.
Key point
Check that it is safe to approach and test responsiveness. If an adult is unresponsive, call 999 or 112 immediately on speakerphone. Assess breathing while waiting for the call to be answered. If the person is not breathing normally, begin CPR and follow the call handler’s instructions.
Press in the centre of the chest at 100 to 120 compressions a minute and to a depth of 5 to 6 cm. Give 30 compressions and 2 breaths if trained and willing, or continue chest compressions if you cannot give breaths. Ask someone else to bring an AED and use it as soon as it arrives.