Healthdirect Free Australian health advice you can count on.

Medical problem? Call 1800 022 222. If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately

healthdirect Australia is a free service where you can talk to a nurse or doctor who can help you know what to do.

beginning of content

How to perform CPR

18-minute read

Are you in an emergency situation right now? Call triple zero (000) immediately and ask for an ambulance. Start CPR as soon as possible after calling for help.


What is CPR?

CPR (short for cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is a first aid technique that can be used if someone is not breathing properly or if their heart has stopped.

  • CPR is a skill that everyone can learn — you don’t need to be a health professional to do it.
  • Try to stay calm if you need to do CPR.
  • Performing CPR may save a person’s life.
  • If you know CPR, you might save the life of a family member or friend.

Start CPR as soon as possible

CPR involves chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth (rescue breaths) that help circulate blood and oxygen in the body. This can help keep the brain and vital organs alive.

You should start CPR if a person:

  • is unconscious
  • is not responding to you
  • is not breathing, or is breathing abnormally

How to perform CPR — adults

Watch this video from Royal Life Saving Australia about how to perform CPR on an adult, or read the DRS ABCD action plan and step-by-step instructions below.


Follow these steps before starting CPR. (Use the phrase “doctor’s ABCD” — DRS ABCD — to help you remember the first letter of each step.)

DRSABCD ACTION PLAN
Letter Representing What to do
D Danger Ensure that the patient and everyone in the area is safe. Do not put yourself or others at risk. Remove the danger or the patient.
R Response Look for a response from the patient — loudly ask their name, squeeze their shoulder.
S Send for help If there is no response, phone triple zero (000) or ask another person to call. Do not leave the patient.
A Airway Check their mouth and throat is clear. Remove any obvious blockages in the mouth or nose, such as vomit, blood, food or loose teeth, then gently tilt their head back and lift their chin.
B Breathing Check if the person is breathing abnormally or not breathing at all after 10 seconds. If they are breathing normally, place them in the recovery position and stay with them.
C CPR If they are still not breathing normally, start CPR. Chest compressions are the most important part of CPR. Start chest compressions as soon as possible after calling for help.
D Defibrillation Attach an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the patient if one is available and there is someone else who is able to bring it. Do not get one yourself if that would mean leaving the patient alone.

Carry out chest compressions:

  1. Place the patient on their back and kneel beside them.
  2. Place the heel of your hand on the lower half of the breastbone, in the centre of the person’s chest. Place your other hand on top of the first hand and interlock your fingers.
  3. Position yourself above the patient’s chest.
  4. Using your body weight (not just your arms) and keeping your arms straight, press straight down on their chest by one third of the chest depth.
  5. Release the pressure. Pressing down and releasing is 1 compression.

Give mouth-to-mouth:

  1. Open the person’s airway by placing one hand on the forehead or top of the head and your other hand under the chin to tilt the head back.
  2. Pinch the soft part of the nose closed with your index finger and thumb.
  3. Open the person’s mouth with your thumb and fingers.
  4. Take a breath and place your lips over the patient's mouth, ensuring a good seal.
  5. Blow steadily into their mouth for about 1 second, watching for the chest to rise.
  6. Following the breath, look at the patient’s chest and watch for the chest to fall. Listen and feel for signs that air is being expelled. Maintain the head tilt and chin lift position.
  7. If their chest does not rise, check the mouth again and remove any obstructions. Make sure the head is tilted and chin lifted to open the airway. Check that yours and the patient’s mouth are sealed together and the nose is closed so that air cannot easily escape. Take another breath and repeat.

Give 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths, known as “30:2”. Aim for 5 sets of 30:2 in about 2 minutes (if only doing compressions about 100 – 120 compressions per minute).

Keep going with 30 compressions then 2 breaths until:

  • the person recovers — they start moving, breathing normally, coughing or talking — then put them in the recovery position; or
  • it is impossible for you to continue because you are exhausted; or
  • the ambulance arrives and a paramedic takes over or tells you to stop

Doing CPR is very tiring so if possible, with minimal interruption, swap between doing mouth-to-mouth and compressions so you can keep going with effective compressions.

If you can’t give breaths, doing compressions only without stopping may still save a life.

How to perform CPR — children over 1 year

Use these instructions only if the child's chest is too small for you to use both hands to do chest compressions. Otherwise, use the instructions for adult CPR above.

Watch this video from Royal Life Saving Australia about how to perform CPR on a child, or read the DRS ABCD action plan and step-by-step instructions below.


Follow these steps before starting CPR. (Use the phrase “doctor’s ABCD” — DRS ABCD — to help you remember the first letter of each step.)

DRSABCD ACTION PLAN
Letter Representing What to do
D Danger Ensure that the patient and everyone in the area is safe. Do not put yourself or others at risk. Remove the danger or the patient.
R Response Look for a response from the patient — loudly ask their name, squeeze their shoulder.
S Send for help If there is no response, phone triple zero (000) or ask another person to call. Do not leave the patient.
A Airway Check their mouth and throat is clear. Remove any obvious blockages in the mouth or nose, such as vomit, blood, food or loose teeth, then gently tilt their head back and lift their chin.
B Breathing Check if the person is breathing abnormally or not breathing at all after 10 seconds. If they are breathing normally, place them in the recovery position and stay with them.
C CPR If they are still not breathing normally, start CPR. Chest compressions are the most important part of CPR. Start chest compressions as soon as possible after calling for help.
D Defibrillation Attach an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the patient if one is available and there is someone else who is able to bring it. Do not get one yourself if that would mean leaving the patient alone.

To carry out chest compressions on a child:

  1. Place the child on their back and kneel beside them.
  2. Place the heel of one hand on the lower half of breastbone, in the centre of the child’s chest (the size of the child will determine if you do CPR with 1 hand or 2 hands).
  3. Position yourself above the child’s chest.
  4. Keeping your arm or arms straight, press straight down on their chest by one third of the chest depth.
  5. Release the pressure. Pressing down and releasing is 1 compression.

To give mouth-to-mouth to a child:

  1. Open the child’s airway by placing one hand on the forehead or top of the head and your other hand under the chin to tilt the head back.
  2. Pinch the soft part of the nose closed with your index finger and thumb.
  3. Open the child’s mouth with your thumb and fingers.
  4. Take a breath and place your lips over the child's mouth, ensuring a good seal.
  5. Blow steadily into their mouth for about 1 second, watching for the chest to rise.
  6. Following the breath, look at the child’s chest and watch for the chest to fall. Listen and feel for signs that air is being expelled. Maintain the head tilt and chin lift position.
  7. If their chest does not rise, check the mouth again and remove any obstructions. Make sure the head is tilted and chin lifted to open the airway. Check that yours and the child’s mouth are sealed together, and the nose is closed so that air cannot easily escape. Take another breath and repeat.

Give 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths, known as “30:2”. Aim for 5 sets of 30:2 in about 2 minutes (if only doing compressions about 100 – 120 compressions per minute).

Keep going with 30 compressions then 2 breaths until:

  • the child recovers – they start moving, breathing normally, coughing or talking — then put them in the recovery position; or
  • it is impossible for you to continue because you are exhausted; or
  • the ambulance arrives and a paramedic takes over or tells you to stop

Doing CPR is very tiring so if possible, with minimal interruption, swap between doing mouth-to-mouth and compressions so you can keep going with effective compressions.

If you can’t give breaths, doing compressions only without stopping may still save a life.

How to perform CPR — babies under 1 year

Watch this video from Royal Life Saving Australia about how to perform CPR on a baby, or read the DRS ABC action plan and step-by-step instructions below.


Follow these life support steps before starting. (Use the phrase “doctor’s ABC” — DRS ABC — to help you remember the first letter of each step.)

DRSABC ACTION PLAN
Letter Representing What to do
D Danger Ensure that the baby/infant and all people in the area are safe. Remove the danger or the baby/infant.
R Response Look for a response from the baby/infant — check for a response to a loud voice, or gently squeeze their shoulders. Do not shake the baby/infant.
S Send for help If there is no response, phone triple zero (000) or ask another person to call. Do not leave the patient.
A Airway Gently lift the baby’s chin to a neutral position (with the head and neck in line, not tilted). Check in the mouth for any blockages, such as vomit, an object or loose teeth, and clear it out with your finger.
B Breathing Check if the baby/infant is breathing abnormally or not breathing at all after 10 seconds. If they are breathing normally, place them in the recovery position and stay with them.
C CPR If they are still not breathing normally, start CPR. Chest compressions are the most important part of CPR. Start chest compressions as soon as possible after calling for help.

To carry out chest compressions on a baby:

  1. Lie the baby/infant on their back.
  2. Place 2 fingers on the lower half of the breastbone in the middle of the chest and press down by one-third of the depth of the chest (you may need to use one hand to do CPR depending on the size of the infant).
  3. Release the pressure. Pressing down and releasing is 1 compression.

To give mouth-to-mouth to a baby:

  1. Tilt the baby/infant’s head back very slightly.
  2. Lift the baby/infant’s chin up, be careful not to rest your hands on their throat because this will stop the air getting to their lungs from the mouth-to-mouth.
  3. Take a breath and cover the baby/infant’s mouth and nose with your mouth, ensuring a good seal.
  4. Blow steadily for about 1 second, watching for the chest to rise.
  5. Following the breath, look at the baby/infant’s chest and watch for the chest to fall. Listen and feel for signs that air is being expelled.
  6. If their chest does not rise, check their mouth and nose again and remove any obstructions. Make sure their head is in a neutral position to open the airway and that there is a tight seal around the mouth and nose with no air escaping. Take another breath and repeat.

Give 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths, known as “30:2”. Aim for 5 sets of 30:2 in about 2 minutes (if only doing compressions about 100 – 120 compressions per minute).

Keep going with 30 compressions to 2 breaths until:

  • the baby/infant recovers — they start moving, breathing normally, coughing, crying or responding — then put them in the recovery position (see above); or
  • it is impossible for you to continue because you are exhausted; or
  • the ambulance arrives and a paramedic takes over or tells you to stop

If you can’t give breaths, doing compressions only without stopping may still save a life

Using an automated external defibrillator (AED)

Using an AED can also save someone’s life. You do not need to be trained to use an AED since the AED will guide you with voice prompts on how to use it safely.

  1. Attach the AED and follow the prompts.
  2. Continue CPR until the AED is turned on and the pads attached.
  3. The AED pads should be placed as instructed and should not be touching each other.
  4. Make sure no-one touches the person while the shock is being delivered.
  5. You can use a standard adult AED and pads on children over 8 years old. Children younger than 8 should ideally have paediatric pads and an AED with a paediatric capability. If these aren’t available, then use the adult AED.
  6. Do not use an AED on children under 1 year of age.

CPR training

We recommend you attend a first aid training course. It pays to have first aid skills because it will make dealing with an emergency situation easier.

St John Ambulance Australia offers a range of first aid courses and can be contacted at stjohn.org.au. To contact St John Ambulance Australia in your local area, call 1300 360 455.

Royal Life Saving Australia organises training courses in first aid and resuscitation in every state and territory.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: September 2021


Back To Top

Need more information?

These trusted information partners have more on this topic.

Top results

Resuscitation for babies and children

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) — if your child is not breathing normally or their heart has stopped, knowing CPR could save their life.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

First Aid and CPR Training - CareFlight

With more than 35 years’ experience saving Australian lives, CareFlight is committed to providing training that gives students from all backgrounds the confidence to act when help is needed

Read more on CareFlight website

CPR for infants (under 1 year)

First aid fact sheet

Read more on St John Ambulance Australia website

CPR for newborns and babies: in pictures | Raising Children Network

See how to do baby CPR. 1. Check for danger. 2. Check response. 3. Send for help. 4. Check airway and breathing. 5. Start compressions and rescue breaths.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

CPR for babies: Aboriginal parents | Raising Children Network

This CPR guide for Aboriginal parents shows what to do when a baby under 12 months isn’t breathing. Call 000. Do chest pushes, air puffs and breath checks.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

CPR adult or child (over 1 year)

First aid fact sheet

Read more on St John Ambulance Australia website

Parenting teens: illustrated guides | Raising Children Network

Parenting in Pictures provides step-by-step guides to essential parenting topics and techniques such as CPR, sleep, first aid and cyberbullying.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

Cardiac arrest and defibrillators: A guide for consumers - Cardiac arrest

Anyone can try to save the life of someone who has experienced a cardiac arrest by acting quickly to restore the heart beat with CPR and defibrillation.

Read more on NSW Health website

Parenting kids: illustrated guides | Raising Children Network

Parenting in Pictures provides step-by-step guides to essential parenting topics and child care techniques such as CPR, sleep, first aid and cyberbullying.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

Newborns safety | Raising Children Network

Newborn safety stressing you? Here’s all you need on newborns safety with articles, videos and resources on first aid, CPR, equipment, car seats and more.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

Healthdirect 24hr 7 days a week hotline

24 hour health advice you can count on

1800 022 222

Government Accredited with over 140 information partners

We are a government-funded service, providing quality, approved health information and advice

Australian Government, health department logo ACT Government logo New South Wales government, health department logo Northen Territory Government logo Queensland Government logo Government of South Australia, health department logo Tasmanian government logo Victorian government logo Government of Western Australia, health department logo

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.