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CPR Step by Step: For Adults, Children, and Infants

November 1, 2026

Clinical death occurs when a person's heart and breathing stop. In such a situation, brain cells begin to die after just 4–6 minutes, so the speed of response from bystanders determines the victim's chances of survival. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) allows for mechanical support of blood circulation and oxygen supply to the brain until specialized services arrive.

Assessing the Condition and Calling for Help

Before taking any action, it is essential to ensure that the environment is safe for both the responder and the victim. After that, the person's response and breathing are assessed.

Assessment procedure:

Checking responsiveness: Gently shake the adult or child by the shoulders and ask loudly: "Can you hear me? What happened?". An infant's feet can be gently tapped.
Assessing breathing: Open the airway (tilt the head and lift the chin for an adult or child; keep the head in a neutral position for an infant) and watch for chest rise and listen for breathing for no longer than 10 seconds. It is also recommended to read the guide on how airway opening is performed.

If the victim is unresponsive and not breathing or breathing abnormally (gasping/agonal breathing appears), you must immediately call 112 (or your local emergency number) and turn on speakerphone. If other people are nearby, instruct them to fetch an automated external defibrillator (AED). Read more about this in the guide on the importance of CPR and AEDs.

Adult CPR

The cause of adult cardiac arrest is usually primary cardiac pathology (e.g., myocardial infarction or cardiac arrhythmia), so primary focus is placed on continuous chest compressions.

Hand position: Lay the victim on their back on a hard surface. Place the heel of one hand on the center of the sternum (center of the chest), and place the other hand on top, interlocking your fingers.
Compressions: Keeping your arms straight at the elbows, press the sternum down 5–6 cm deep at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute. Release the pressure completely so the chest wall recoils to its initial position, but do not lift your palms off the skin.
Rescue breaths: After performing 30 compressions, open the airway, pinch the nostrils shut, and deliver 2 normal rescue breaths (each breath should last about 1 second while watching for the chest to rise). If you have protective equipment, use a CPR mask with gloves or a collapsible AMBU resuscitation bag.
Cycle: Repeat the ratio of 30 compressions to 2 rescue breaths. If you are unwilling or unable to perform rescue breaths, perform continuous chest compressions only. A specialized Cardio First Angel ECC first aid assistant can also be helpful to maintain correct compression depth and force.

Child CPR (1 Year to Puberty)

Cardiac arrest in children is most often secondary, caused by respiratory failure (choking, drowning, or trauma), which is why resuscitation begins with rescue breaths.

Initial rescue breaths: Deliver 5 initial rescue breaths after opening the airway.
Compressions: Press the lower half of the sternum using one or two hands (depending on the child's size) to about 1/3 of the depth of the chest (about 5 cm). Compression rate is 100–120 times per minute.
Ratio: According to ERC pediatric resuscitation guidelines, a ratio of 15 compressions to 2 breaths is used. If you are trained only in adult CPR, you can apply 30:2 – the most important thing is not to delay. If you are alone without a phone nearby, perform CPR for 1 minute before calling 112.

Infant CPR (Under 1 Year)

Infant CPR techniques are adapted to their small body frame and anatomical features:

Initial rescue breaths: Open the airway to a neutral position (do not tilt the head back too far). Check the mouth and deliver 5 initial rescue breaths, covering both the infant's nose and mouth with your mouth. Breaths should be gentle – just enough to make the chest rise.
Compressions: Press the lower part of the sternum with the tips of two fingers (index and middle) or by encircling the chest with both hands and pressing with your thumbs. Compression depth is about 1/3 of the chest depth (about 4 cm), at a rate of 100–120 times per minute.
Ratio: As with children, a 15:2 ratio is applied (for those trained only in adult CPR – 30:2). If emergency services haven't been called yet, call 112 after 1 minute of CPR.

Using a Defibrillator (AED)

An automated external defibrillator is a device that analyzes the heart rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electric shock to restore heart activity. Modern devices, such as the ViVest PowerBeat P3 portable defibrillator (AED) with eSIM or the CU Medical iPAD CU-SP1 semi-automatic external defibrillator (AED), provide voice prompts automatically.

Steps for using an AED:

Turn on the device: Open the lid or press the power button.
Apply the pads: Bare the victim's chest and apply the electrode pads as illustrated on the pad packaging itself (one under the right collarbone, the other on the left side of the chest).
Analysis: Stand clear of the victim and let the AED analyze the rhythm. No one should touch the patient during analysis.
Shock or CPR: If the device indicates a shock is needed, ensure no one is touching the victim and press the flashing shock button (fully automatic AEDs deliver the shock automatically). If a shock is not recommended, immediately resume chest compressions.

Comparison of Resuscitation Features

Parameter	Adult	Child (from 1 y.o.)	Infant (under 1 y.o.)
Initial rescue breaths	None (start with compressions)	5 rescue breaths	5 rescue breaths (mouth-to-mouth & nose)
Compression area	Center of the sternum	Lower half of the sternum	Lower half of the sternum
Compression technique	Two hands with interlocked fingers	One or two hands	2 fingers or 2 thumbs
Compression depth	5–6 cm	About 5 cm (1/3 depth)	About 4 cm (1/3 depth)
Compression to breath ratio	30:2	15:2 (for untrained in pediatric CPR – 30:2)	15:2 (for untrained in pediatric CPR – 30:2)

Practical Cheat Sheet: CPR Algorithm

If you find yourself in a situation where a person is unresponsive, follow this sequence:

Safety and check: Ensure safety, check consciousness and breathing for up to 10 seconds.
Call 112: Call 112 (or local emergency number), activate speakerphone, and request an AED to be brought.
Start compressions: Perform 30 compressions for an adult. For children and infants, give 5 rescue breaths first.
Attach AED: As soon as the AED arrives, turn it on and follow voice prompts without interrupting compressions longer than necessary.
Continuation: Continue CPR until emergency medical services arrive, the victim starts breathing, or you become exhausted. If protective equipment is required, you will find it in IFAK first aid kits.