A casualty isn't breathing normally and needs CPR. At what rate should you press down and release on the centre of their chest?

Related Information

When providing emergency care, remember the letters D R A B C:

D - Danger: Check that you are not in danger.

R - Response: Try to get a response by gently shaking the casualty’s shoulders and asking loudly ‘Are you all right?’ If they respond, check for injuries.

A - Airway: If there’s no response, open the casualty’s airway by placing your fingers under their chin and lifting it forward.​

B - Breathing: Check that the casualty is breathing normally. Look for chest movements, look and listen for breathing, and feel for breath on your cheek. If there are no signs of breathing, start CPR. Interlock your fingers, place them in the centre of the casualty’s chest and press down hard and fast – around 5 to 6 centimetres and about twice a second. You may only need one hand for a child and shouldn’t press down as far. For infants, use two fingers in the middle of the chest and press down about a third of the chest depth. Don’t stop until the casualty starts breathing again or a medical professional takes over.

C - Circulation: If the casualty is responsive and breathing, check for signs of bleeding. Protect yourself from exposure to blood and check for anything that may be in the wound, such as glass. Don’t remove anything that’s stuck in the wound. Taking care not to press on the object, build up padding on either side of the object. If nothing is embedded, apply firm pressure over the wound to stem the flow of blood. As soon as practical, fasten a pad to the wound with a bandage or length of cloth. Use the cleanest material available.