How to Do CPR: Step-by-Step Guide for Adults & Kids

Few things feel more urgent than the moment someone collapses in front of you. If you’ve ever frozen, wondering whether you’d know what to do, you’re not alone — and the good news is that hands-only CPR is remarkably simple to learn, and this guide walks you through the steps for adults, children, and infants so you can act with confidence when seconds count.

Bystander CPR doubles survival odds: Performed within first 3–5 minutes ·
Compression rate target: 100–120 per minute ·
Compression depth for adults: At least 2 inches (5 cm) ·
Bystander CPR rate in US: Approximately 46% of cardiac arrest cases ·
Hands-only CPR effectiveness: As effective as conventional CPR for adults ·
AED use increases survival: Reduces time to defibrillation dramatically

Key CPR parameters at a glance provide a quick reference for correct technique.

What are the 7 steps of CPR?

1. Check scene and person

• Ensure the area is safe — no traffic, fire, or electrical hazards. AHA CPR & First Aid FAQs
• Tap the person’s shoulder and shout, “Are you OK?” AHA CPR & First Aid
• If no response and not breathing normally, they need CPR. AHA CPR & First Aid

2. Call 911

• Call emergency services immediately, or ask someone nearby to call. AHA CPR & First Aid
• If you’re alone with a child or infant, perform 2 minutes of CPR first, then call. AHA CPR & First Aid

3. Start chest compressions

• Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest (lower half of breastbone), other hand on top. HSI blog
• Push hard and fast — at least 2 inches deep, at 100–120 compressions per minute. HSI blog
• Allow full chest recoil between compressions. AHA CPR & First Aid

4. Open airway

• Tilt the head back and lift the chin to open the airway. healthdirect
• Check for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds. AHA CPR & First Aid

5. Give rescue breaths

• Pinch the nose, seal your mouth over theirs, and give 2 breaths (1 second each). AHA CPR & First Aid
• Watch for chest rise. If it doesn’t rise, reposition the airway and try again. healthdirect

6. Continue cycles

• Repeat 30 compressions to 2 breaths (30:2 ratio) for single rescuers. AHA CPR & First Aid
• Minimize pauses between compressions and breaths. AHA CPR & First Aid

7. Use AED

• Turn on the AED and follow voice prompts. AHA CPR & First Aid
• Place pads on bare chest — one on upper right, one on lower left side. American Heart Association CPR & First Aid
• Deliver shock if advised, then resume CPR immediately. AHA CPR & First Aid

The implication: mastering this sequence removes hesitation and builds a consistent response pattern for any bystander.

How to do CPR step by step with pictures?

Hand placement on center of chest

• For adults: heel of one hand on lower half of breastbone, other hand on top, fingers interlaced. HSI blog
• Keep your shoulders directly over your hands, arms straight. HSI blog

Compression depth at least 2 inches

• Push hard, straight down — at least 2 inches (5 cm) for adults. HSI blog
• Use your upper body weight, not just arm strength. HSI blog

Rate of 100–120 compressions per minute

• Think of the beat of “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees — that’s your speed. AHA CPR & First Aid
• Count out loud if it helps: “1-2-3-4…” up to 30. AHA CPR & First Aid

Full chest recoil between compressions

• Let the chest rise completely after each push — don’t lean on the chest. AHA CPR & First Aid
• Full recoil allows the heart to refill with blood. AHA CPR & First Aid

Adding rescue breaths (if trained)

• Open airway with head-tilt chin-lift. healthdirect
• Give 2 breaths after every 30 compressions. AHA CPR & First Aid

Visual guide for each step

• Training kits from the American Heart Association use visual step-by-step cards. American Heart Association CPR & First Aid
• Online videos from the Red Cross and AHA show real-time demonstrations. AHA CPR & First Aid

The pattern: hands-only CPR for adults and teens avoids one of the biggest bystander barriers — fear of mouth-to-mouth contact. For the untrained rescuer, pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest is the priority. AHA CPR & First Aid

How to do CPR for children?

Child CPR (age 1 to puberty)

• Use one or two hands depending on the child’s size — center of chest. HSI blog
• Compress about 2 inches (5 cm) at 100-120 per minute. HSI blog
• Give 2 gentle breaths after each set of 30 compressions. AHA CPR & First Aid

Infant CPR (under 1 year)

• Place two fingers in the center of the chest just below the nipple line. HSI blog
• Compress about 1.5 inches (4 cm) or one-third of chest depth. healthdirect
• Rate: 100-120 compressions per minute. HSI blog

Compression technique for small bodies

• Two-thumb encircling-hands technique for infants: place thumbs on sternum, fingers wrapped around chest. HSI blog
• For child: use one hand if child is small — adjust to achieve 2-inch depth. HSI blog

Ratio 30:2 for single rescuer

• For both children and infants, single rescuers should use 30:2 ratio. AHA CPR & First Aid
• If two rescuers are present, ratio changes to 15:2 for children and infants. AHA CPR & First Aid

Two-thumb technique for infants

• Place both thumbs side by side on the lower half of the breastbone. HSI blog
• Encircle the infant’s chest with your fingers to stabilize. HSI blog

What this means: tailoring compression technique and breath inclusion to the child’s age is critical for effective resuscitation.

How to do CPR counting?

Maintaining 100–120 compressions per minute

• Use “Stayin’ Alive” (Bee Gees) — the classic 103 bpm beat. AHA CPR & First Aid
• Other songs at the right tempo: “Another One Bites the Dust” (Queen), “I Will Survive” (Gloria Gaynor). AHA CPR & First Aid

Using ‘Stayin’ Alive’ or ‘Another One Bites the Dust’ beat

• Sing it in your head — “Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive” — each syllable is a compression. AHA CPR & First Aid
• The beat naturally lands around 100-103 bpm, well within the target range. AHA CPR & First Aid

Counting 30 compressions aloud

• Count out loud: “1-2-3-4…” up to 30 to maintain rhythm. AHA CPR & First Aid
• 30 compressions at 100-120 bpm takes about 15-18 seconds. AHA CPR & First Aid

Timing breaths to avoid long pauses

• Give each breath over 1 second — no longer. AHA CPR & First Aid
• Pause between compressions and breaths should be less than 10 seconds total. AHA CPR & First Aid

The implication: counting and song cues remove the guesswork from rhythm — a major barrier for anxious bystanders. A metronome app set to 110 bpm can also help maintain pace. AHA CPR & First Aid

How to do CPR on adults?

Adult CPR sequence

• Check, call, compress — in that order for witnessed collapse. AHA CPR & First Aid
• If unwitnessed or unresponsive, give 2 minutes of CPR before calling. AHA CPR & First Aid

Hand placement and depth

• Two hands, heel of one hand on lower half of breastbone, other hand on top. HSI blog
• Compress at least 2 inches (5 cm) — use body weight. HSI blog

Hands-only vs. conventional

• Hands-only (compressions without breaths) is recommended for untrained bystanders. AHA CPR & First Aid
• Conventional (compressions + breaths) if you’re trained and willing. AHA CPR & First Aid

Common mistakes to avoid

• Compressing too slowly or too fast — aim for 100-120 bpm. AHA CPR & First Aid
• Not allowing full chest recoil — reduces blood flow. AHA CPR & First Aid
• Moving hands off the chest between compressions. HSI blog

AED integration

• Turn on AED as soon as it arrives — follow audio prompts. AHA CPR & First Aid
• Place pads on bare chest: one on upper right chest, one on lower left side. American Heart Association CPR & First Aid
• Ensure no one touches the person while the AED analyzes or delivers a shock. AHA CPR & First Aid

Why this matters: For adults who collapse suddenly, hands-only CPR from a bystander doubles or triples survival odds compared with no CPR at all. The biggest mistake is doing nothing — any compressions are better than none. AHA CPR & First Aid

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

• Hands-only CPR is effective for adults in sudden cardiac arrest — AHA CPR & First Aid
• Chest compressions should be at least 2 inches deep for adults — HSI blog
• AED use within 3–5 minutes greatly increases survival — AHA CPR & First Aid
• Compression rate of 100-120 per minute for all ages — AHA CPR & First Aid

What’s unclear

• Optimal compression depth for children and infants — more research needed
• Whether rescue breaths add significant benefit for untrained bystanders (current guidelines say no for adults)
• Whether two-thumb or two-finger technique is superior for infant CPR
• Ideal compression rate for very young children (current guidelines use same 100-120, but optimal may differ)

Hands-only CPR can double a person’s chance of survival.

American Red Cross (CPR training materials)

Push down on the middle of the chest with hard, fast movements — at least 2 inches down.

Cleveland Clinic (via HSI blog)

Start chest compressions at a rate of 2 per second, pressing down smoothly and firmly.

British Heart Foundation (via AHA resources)

For the bystander facing a sudden cardiac arrest in the US, the choice is clear: start hands-only compressions immediately, call 911, and use an AED if available — or watch precious minutes slip away.

Frequently asked questions