CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers - Handbook

Oct 13, 2026

CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers handbook explains how to respond to life-threatening emergencies, emphasizing early recognition, rapid activation of EMS, and immediate initiation of CPR. It covers preventing bloodborne pathogen spread, taking action, recovery positions, and summoning advanced medical personnel. The manual also details cardiac arrest basics, likely causes and signs, and core CPR mechanics including chest compressions, ventilation delivery, and effective technique parameters.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

SECTION 1: THE PROFESSIONAL RESCUER

The Duty to Respond

Preventing the Spread of Bloodborne Pathogens

Taking Action

Recovery Positions

Summoning More Advanced Medical Personnel

Moving a Victim

Breathing Emergencies

Giving Ventilations

Airway Obstruction

Cardiac Emergencies

Cardiac Arrest

CPR

AEDs

SECTION 2: SKILL SHEETS

Removing Disposable Gloves

Primary Assessment—Adult

Primary Assessment—Child and Infant

Recovery Positions

Giving Ventilations

Giving Ventilations Using a Bag-Valve-Mask Resuscitator—Two Rescuers

Conscious Choking—Adult and Child

Conscious Choking—Infant

Unconscious Choking

CPR

Two-Rescuer CPR

Using an AED

The Cardiac Chain of Survival

CARDIAC ARREST

CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers HANDBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1: THE PROFESSIONAL RESCUER The Duty to Respond ________________________________________ 2 Preventing the Spread of Bloodborne Pathogens__________ 3 Taking Action _________________________________________________ 5 Recovery Positions___________________________________________ 9 Summoning More Advanced Medical Personnel __________ 9 Moving a Victim______________________________________________ 10 Breathing Emergencies_____________________________________ 10 Giving Ventilations ___________________________________________ 12 Airway Obstruction __________________________________________ 12 Cardiac Emergencies _______________________________________ 13 Cardiac Arrest _______________________________________________ 15 CPR __________________________________________________________ 15 AEDs _________________________________________________________ 17 SECTION 2: SKILL SHEETS Removing Disposable Gloves ______________________________21 Primary Assessment—Adult ________________________________22 Primary Assessment—Child and Infant ____________________24 Recovery Positions__________________________________________26 Giving Ventilations ___________________________________________ 27 Giving Ventilations Using a Bag-Valve-Mask Resuscitator—Two Rescuers________________________________28 Conscious Choking—Adult and Child ______________________30 Conscious Choking—Infant _________________________________32 Unconscious Choking ______________________________________34 CPR __________________________________________________________36 Two-Rescuer CPR __________________________________________38 Using an AED _______________________________________________40 iv | CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers The Cardiac Chain of Survival The four links in the Cardiac Chain of Survival are: ■ Early recognition and early access to the EMS system. The sooner someone calls 9-1-1 or the local emergency number, the sooner EMS personnel will take over. ■ Early CPR. CPR helps supply oxygen to the brain and other vital organs. This helps keep the victim alive until an AED is used or more advanced medical care is provided. ■ Early deﬁbrillation. An electrical shock, called deﬁbrillation, may help restore an effective heart rhythm. ■ Early more advanced medical care. EMS personnel provide more advanced medical care and transport the victim to a hospital. For each minute CPR and deﬁbrillation are delayed, the victim’s chance for survival is reduced by about 10 percent. CARDIAC ARREST Cardiac arrest is a life-threatening emergency. Causes of Cardiac Arrest ■ Heart attack Electrocution ■ ■ Respiratory arrest ■ Drowning ■ Other conditions Causes of cardiac arrest in children and infants include: ■ Airway and breathing problems. ■ Traumatic injuries or accidents (e.g., motor-vehicle collision, drowning, electrocution or poisoning) . ■ A hard blow to the chest. ■ Congenital heart disease. ■ Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) . Signs of Cardiac Arrest Unconsciousness ■ ■ No breathing ■ No pulse CPR Delivered in cycles of chest compressions and ventilations, CPR circulates blood that contains oxygen to the vital organs of a person whose heart and breathing have stopped. Summoning more advanced medical personnel SECTION 1-The Professional Rescuer | 15 immediately is critical for the victim’s survival. If an AED is available, use it in combination with CPR and according to local protocols until more advanced medical personnel take over. Ifat any time you notice an obvious sign of life, such as breathing, stop CPR and monitor the victim’s condition. Chest Compressions Effective chest compressions are essential for high-quality CPR. They circulate blood to the victim’s brain and other vital organs. The effectiveness of compressions can be i

FAQs

What are the key steps in the Cardiac Chain of Survival?

The chain includes early recognition and early access to EMS, early CPR to support oxygen delivery, early defibrillation to restore an effective rhythm, and early more advanced medical care with transport.

How does the handbook describe the impact of delays in CPR and defibrillation?

For each minute CPR and defibrillation are delayed, the victim’s chance for survival is reduced by about 10 percent.

What technique requirements for chest compressions are emphasized?

High-quality compressions require a firm, flat surface, proper depth, correct hand and arm position, full recoil after each compression, a compression rate of at least 100 per minute, and no interruption except for only a few seconds if needed.

Oct 13, 2026

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