!b! It's important to practise this technique under trained supervision. There's no substitute for practical knowledge & experience. !n! This section sets out to describe {external cardiac compression} for an average adult. However, before using this life-saving procedure, you must learn & practise the technique under qualified supervision.
This is !b! NEVER !n! attempted if the heart is beating, even faintly, & {pulse} is felt.
$2
The patient is placed on their back on firm surface, with the neck extended. You remove all clothing above waist level & kneel by the side of the patient, with your knees at same level as patient's heart.
#external cardiac1
You then locate the junction of ribs with breast bone at the bottom of the breast bone. Place heel of one hand along line of breast bone, two finger breadths above this junction. You must keep the fingers off the ribs. You cover this hand with the heel of your other hand, interlocking the fingers. Your shoulders should be directly over patient's breastbone with your arms straight.
Keeping the arms straight, you press vertically down on the lower half of the breastbone to move it 1.5-2 inches for the average adult & then release the pressure. You do this 15 times, at the rate of 80 times per minute & then give 2 breaths using {mouth to mouth resuscitation}.
You repeat 15 compressions & 2 more breaths, checking the patient's pulse & color. If pink, the heart is beating (confirmed by {pulse}) & so you would stop. If there is no pulse, you continue until spontaneous breathing & heartbeat are established.
