The 2025 BLS for Healthcare Provider CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/Basic Life Support) course covers CPR skills for all age groups, to include methods of including ventilation, AED use, and FBAO relief in both the responsive and non-responsive victim.

🫀 CPR – BLS Study Guide

Summary of American Heart Association (AHA) CPR – BLS Guidelines

⚠️ Disclaimer: This guide is a summary for reference only and does not replace the required AHA CPR – BLS  Provider Manual. Providers must rely on clinical judgment and current AHA publications.

⭐ High-Quality CPR: Why It Matters

High-quality CPR significantly improves survival by maintaining blood flow to vital organs.

✅ Key Characteristics

• ⏱️ Start compressions within 10 seconds of recognizing cardiac arrest

• 💪 Push hard, push fast

  • Rate: 100–120/min

• 📏 Correct depth

  • Adult: ≥ 2 in (5 cm), ≤ 2.4 in

  • Child: ~ 2 in (5 cm)

  • Infant: ~ 1.5 in (4 cm)

• 🔁 Allow full chest recoil

• ⛔ Minimize interruptions (< 10 seconds)

• 🌬️ Give breaths until visible chest rise (avoid over-ventilation)

👶🧒👨 Age Groups for CPR

• Infant: Birth to 1 year

• Child: 1 year to puberty

• Adult: Puberty and older

⚡ Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

• 🔌 Turn AED ON immediately when available

• 🔄 After shock, resume compressions immediately (no pulse check)

• 👶🧒 Adult pads/dose may be used on infants or children <8 yrs if pediatric pads unavailable

• 🧒 Pediatric pads recommended for ages 1–8 when available

🚫 Choking (Foreign-Body Airway Obstruction)

😮 Responsive Victim

• 👨 Adult/Child: Abdominal thrusts

• 👶 Infant: 5 back slaps → 5 chest thrusts (repeat)

😵 Unresponsive Victim (All Ages)

• 📞 Activate EMS

• ❤️ Start CPR beginning with compressions

❤️ Child or Infant With a Pulse

• 🫁 Pulse > 60/min, not breathing:

  • Give rescue breaths only

• ⚠️ Pulse < 60/min, not breathing, with poor perfusion:

  • Start CPR (compressions + breaths)

🔄 C-A-B Sequence (Not A-B-C)

C-A-B = Compressions → Airway → Breaths

✋ Compressions

• 🚨 Ensure scene safety

• 😴 Unresponsive + no normal breathing + no pulse = CPR

• 🚚 Move victim if environment is unsafe

• ❤️ Pulse check: ≤ 10 seconds

• 📍 Pulse sites:

  • Adult/Child: Carotid

  • Infant: Brachial

• ✋ Hand placement:

  • Adult: Lower half of breastbone

  • Infant (2 rescuers): 2-thumb encircling hands (preferred)

• 👥 2-rescuer CPR:

  • One rescuer compresses

  • One rescuer manages airway & breaths

🫁 Airway

• 🧠 No spinal concern: Head-Tilt / Chin-Lift

• 👄 Mouth-to-mouth:

  • Seal mouth

  • Pinch nose

  • Give 2 breaths, watch chest rise

💨 Breaths & Ventilations

• 🚫 Bag-mask not recommended for single rescuer CPR

• 👀 Effective breath = visible chest rise

• ⚠️ Avoid gastric inflation (gentle breaths)

• 🔢 Compression-to-Ventilation Ratios:

  • Adult (1 or 2 rescuers): 30:2

  • Child (2 rescuers): 15:2

  • Infant (2 rescuers): 15:2

• 🫁 Advanced airway:

  • Continuous compressions (100–120/min)

  • 1 breath every 6 seconds

• 👶 Child with pulse, not breathing:

  • 1 breath every 2–3 seconds

⚖️ Legal & Educational Notice

The authors make no guarantees regarding accuracy, completeness, or applicability. Suggested doses and interventions do not replace clinical judgment.

CPR 4G INC is not liable for any direct or indirect damages resulting from use of this material. Content may not reflect the most current AHA updates.

🔗 Refer to official AHA ECC Guidelines for the most current clinical guidance.