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Cardiac arrest can be reversible if treatment (including hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation—or CPR) is started immediately. If you spot the signs of sudden cardiac arrest, call 911. While you wait for help, do this.
How to do hands-only CPR
Cardiac arrest can be reversible if treatment (including hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation—or CPR) is started immediately. If you spot the signs of sudden cardiac arrest, call 911. While you wait for help, do this.
- Find the center of the person’s chest.
- Push hard and fast on that spot at a rate of 100 to 120 beats per minute—try pushing to the beat of the disco song "Stayin' Alive."
- Keep pushing until the person breathes normally or someone with more advanced CPR training takes over.
Source: American Heart Association
Reviewed 10/25/2020