CPR Summary When someone’s blood flow or breathing stops, seconds count. Permanent brain damage or death can happen quickly. If you know how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), you could save a life. CPR is an emergency procedure for a person whose heart has stopped or is no longer breathing. CPR can maintain circulation and breathing until emergency medical help arrives. Even if you haven’t had training, you can do “hands-only” CPR for a teen or adult whose heart has stopped beating (“hands-only” CPR isn’t recommended for children). “Hands-only” CPR uses chest compressions to keep blood circulating until emergency help arrives. If you’ve had training, you can use chest compressions, clear the airway, and do rescue breathing. Rescue breathing helps get oxygen to the lungs for a person who has stopped breathing. To keep your skills up, you should repeat the training every two years. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Specifics Adult First Aid/CPR/AED Ready Reference American Red Cross Hands-Only CPR American Heart Association Learn CPR You Can Do It! University of Washington, School of Medicine Find an Expert American Heart Association American Heart Association American Red Cross American Red Cross Find a course American Heart Association National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Encyclopedia Breathing difficulties – first aid CPR CPR – adult CPR – child (1 to 8 years old) CPR – infant Myocardial contusion Start Here Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) American Academy of Family Physicians Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): First Aid Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation National Institutes of Health Children CPR (For Parents) Nemours Foundation CPR: A Real Lifesaver (For Kids) Nemours Foundation Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED Ready Reference American Red Cross Array CPR – adult – slideshow CPR – child 1 to 8 years old – slideshow CPR – infant – slideshow Statistics and Research CPR Facts and Stats American Heart Association Videos and Tutorials CPR: Adult American Red Cross CPR: Infant American Red Cross Journal Articles CPR Latest News CPR Help as Near as Your Phone HealthDay