Clincal Guidelines: Chest Compression First

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends compressions first for cardiac arrest in a new guideline for 2010:

•  Chest compressions should be the first step in addressing cardiac arrest.
• A-B-Cs (Airway-Breathing-Compressions) of cardiorespiratory resuscitation (CPR) be changed to C-A-B (Compressions-Airway-Breathing).
• Increase the speed of chest compressions to a rate of at least 100 times a minute
• Compressions should be made more deeply,  at least 2 inches in adults and children and 1.5 inches in infants
• Avoid leaning on the chest so that it can return to its starting position
• Compression should be continue as long as possible without the use of excessive ventilation.
• 9-1-1 centers are directed to deliver instructions assertively so that chest compressions can be started when cardiac arrest is suspected.
•  Dispatchers should instruct untrained lay rescuers to provide Hands-Only CPR (chest compression only) for adults who are unresponsive, with no breathing..