Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) or
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (
CPR) refers to the skills required (without use of
equipment) in the
resuscitation of
cardiac arrest individuals. On recognising
cardiac arrest,
chest compressions should be initiated. Good quality compressions are with
arms extended, elbows locked,
shoulders directly over the casualty's
chest and
heel of the palm on the lower half of the
sternum. The rescuer pushes hard and fast, compressing 4-6 cm deep for
adults at 100-120 compressions per minute with complete
chest recoil. Two quick
mouth-to-
mouth ventilations (each 400-600 mL
tidal volume) should be delivered after every 30
chest compressions.
Chest compression-only
CPR is recommended for lay rescuers, dispatcher-assisted
CPR and those unable or unwilling to give
ventilations.
CPR should be stopped when the casualty wakes up, an
emergency team takes over casualty care or if an
automated external defibrillator prompts for
analysis of
heart rhythm or delivery of
shock.