How to Perform Basic CPR With a Tune We Know By "Heart"

CPR saves lives, but isn't taught in schools. Did you know that you do not need to perform mouth to mouth breathing? It can help, but the most important part is to keep the heart beating.

And remember- anyone can perform CPR! You do not need first aid certification. Keep reading for the technique, and a handy song to play that helps- you already know it!

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, or CPR, is the act of forcibly compressing the chest to keep blood moving throughout the body after cardiac arrest. All the cells in the body need oxygen to survive. They also require a constant supply of nutrients and rapid removal of waste products. Oxygen and nutrients are carried through the body by blood which is pumped by the heart.

If a cardiac arrest occurs, blood will stop circulating around the body. Breathing will also cease as well though it may not stop completely for several minutes.

Without a continuous supply of oxygen, the cells in the body begin to die. Brain cells are the most sensitive, after only 4 to 5 minutes of no oxygen brain cells start dying, which leads to brain damage and death.

CPR keeps oxygenated blood flowing through the body to keep vital organs alive. In and of itself, CPR won't restart the patients heart. It simply keeps them alive until paramedics arrive with a defibrillator to shock the heart for restart.

First, when someone has collapsed:

When you find someone not breathing, start CPR. Interlock your hands and place them in the middle of the persons chest and push down firmly. You can give 30 compression, then 2 rescue breaths- but the breaths are not absolutely required.

Do not check for a pulse as it wastes valuable time.
Do not stop CPR until the patient breathes or coughs or paramedics arrive with a defibrillator. If they start breathing place them on their side so their tongue does not get in the airway.
You should aim for a rate of 100 – 120 chest compression's a minute.

The perfect song to play in your head while performing CPR is Staying Alive by the Bee Gees! It has the perfect amount of beats per minute, and you are willing the person to "Stay Alive."