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CPR metronome: the beat for chest compressions
In an emergency, call your emergency number first (911 in North America, 112 in Europe, 999 in the UK, 000 in Australia) and put the phone on speaker. The dispatcher will talk you through CPR.
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Hands-only CPR for an adult who suddenly collapses
- Check the scene is safe. Tap the person and shout. If they do not respond and are not breathing normally, call for help.
- Kneel beside them. Put the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest, the other hand on top.
- Push hard and fast: at least 5 cm (2 inches) deep, but not more than 6 cm (2.4 inches), at 100 to 120 compressions a minute — this metronome beats at 110. Let the chest come back up fully after each push.
- Keep going until help arrives or an AED (defibrillator) is ready. If someone can, send them to find an AED and follow its spoken instructions.
If you are trained
Trained rescuers give 30 compressions then 2 breaths (untick "hands-only" to have the counter prompt you). For children and babies, the depth and technique are different — take a course from the Red Cross, St John Ambulance, the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the American Heart Association. A few hours of training makes a real difference.
For planning and general information. In an emergency, follow the instructions of your local authorities and call your emergency number (911, 112, 999 or 000).
Source: American Heart Association, Adult Basic Life Support guidelines. This page is not a substitute for CPR training..