Roy Gordon, AHA BLS instructor/ EMT (Updated Feb 21, 2025)
If an adult, or teen suddenly collapses and stops breathing 😮💨 you can bet they are in Cardiac Arrest. Beginning Continuous Chest Compressions (CCC) aka Hands-Only™CPR will ‘buy them time’ until a defibrillator arrives to eliminate the lethal rhythm, called Ventricular Fibrillation.
People often ask me if Hands-Only™ CPR is something new, as they didn’t hear about it in their last CPR class. Surprisingly, CCC (Continuous Chest Compressions) was first developed by The Sarver Heart Center in 2008, and in 2010 The AHA launched the Hands-Only™ CPR campaign.
Why is doing CCC considered even more effective than conventional CPR involving breaths?
For a witnessed Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in an adult or teen there is still plenty of oxygen remaining in the bloodstream, so starting Compressions keeps that oxygenated blood flowing-uninterrupted to vital organs until an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) can shock the heart to restore a normal rhythm.
Every interruption in compressions to give breaths is causing more harm than good in the first few minutes of SCA.
And the biggest deterrent for people to not initiate CPR in public is the fear of giving mouth-to-mouth to a stranger, so the Hands-only CPR campaign is helping to save a lot more lives until EMT’s arrive.
The Hands-Only™CPR campaign urges people with no training to start saving lives, but those that are certified will also initiate CCC until the AED arrives with a barrier device, pocket mask.
Here are the steps to save-a-life until you can obtain your CPR certificate at an AHA Training Site.
Stayin’ Alive
2) call 911 and get an AED
3) Check for breathing for 10 seconds by placing your hand on their stomach and looking for any movement. If not breathing or only gasping begin chest compressions.
Push Hard and Fast in the center of the chest.
(Administer Compressions that are at Least 2 Inches in depth and delivered at a Rate of 100-120/minute to the Bee Gees song Stayin Alive. Be Sure to Let the Chest fully recoil between compressions. Switch with another rescuer every 150- 200 Compressions, or when tired).
The treatment for cardiac arrest is not CPR, but rather using the AED as quickly as possible, so when the AED arrives use it immediately! Turn-it on, and follow the prompts
Remember: this technique is only for an adult, or teen who suddenly collapses, and is not breathing, or gasping. There are many situations (listed below) where giving rescue breaths would be essential.
Practice these skills with Revive CPR in San Francisco and receive your 2-year AHA CPR certification. Learn how to give high-quality compressions, and deliver breaths with an airway device in the situations listed below.
Hands-Only™ CPR is not effective in the following situations:
- Children and Infants
- Drowning victims
- Airway obstruction, unresponsive choking
- Head injuries that causes someone to stop breathing
- Acute respiratory arrest such as associated with smoke inhalation or drug overdose
- Not witnessed Sudden Cardiac Arrest
The AHA video above on Hands-Only CPR encourages people with no training to jump-in and start compressions. This may not be the first person you want saving your life, but they may be the only one around.
Something is always better than nothing, and even the worst CPR is better than no CPR!
Hands-Only™ CPR is also intended for certified individuals when acting as a bystander. Either people who hold their CPR Certification, or healthcare providers when acting as bystanders with BLS certification are encouraged to give breaths when the AED arrives with a pocket mask.
Rest assured that Continuous Chest Compressions (CCC) have been proven to be even more effective than conventional CPR (compressions and breaths) for an adult, witnessed SCA. The Sarver Heart Center at the University of Arizona has gone so far as to say that continuous chest compressions can double a person’s chance of survival. Please see our article on New advances in CPR.
Learning to give high-quality compressions requires in-person training, and Revive CPR encourages those interested to reach out and sign up for an AHA CPR class, or BLS class.
Revive CPR 148 Townsend St., San Francisco, CA 94107
Hands-Only CPR is a Trademark of The American Heart Association
Come join us for an engaging CPR class led by an AHA Instructor.
For the general public: CPR classes, CPR certification
For healthcare providers: BLS classes, BLS certification
