Hands-Only CPR for Adults Who Suddenly Collapse
Frequently Asked Questions


Q: What is Hands-Only CPR?

A: Hands-Only CPR is CPR without mouth-to-mouth breaths. It is recommended for use by
people who see an adult suddenly collapse in the “out-of-hospital” setting. It consists of two
steps:
1. Call 911 (or send someone to do that).
2. Begin providing high-quality chest compressions by pushing hard and fast in the center
of the chest with minimal interruptions.

Q: Who should receive Hands-Only CPR?

A: Hands-Only CPR is recommended for use on adults who suddenly collapse. The American
Heart Association (AHA) recommends conventional CPR (that is, CPR with a combination of
breaths and compressions) for all infants and children, for adult victims who are found already
unconscious and not breathing normally, and for any victims of drowning or collapse due to
breathing problems.

Q. Do I need to take a training course to learn how to do Hands-Only CPR?

A. CPR is a psychomotor skill. The AHA continues to recommend that you take a CPR course
to practice and learn the skills of CPR, including giving high-quality chest compressions. People
who have had CPR training are more likely to give high-quality chest compressions and are
more confident about their skills than those who have not been trained (or have not trained in
the last 5 years).* Even a very short CPR training program that you can do at home, like the
AHA’s 22-minute CPR Anytime™ program, provides skills training and practice that can prepare
you to perform high quality chest compressions.
*
Data on skills performance is from the 2005 CPR Anytime study using an “untrained” control group. Data
about confidence/willingness to act is from a 2007 national survey, in which Americans who were trained
within the last 5 years were almost twice as likely (45% vs. 24%) to say they’d begin CPR immediately in
a real emergency as those not trained or not trained in the past five years.

Q. Do I still need to learn “conventional” CPR with mouth-to-mouth breathing?

A. The AHA still recommends that you learn conventional CPR that includes mouth-to-mouth
breathing. There are many medical emergencies that cause a person to be unresponsive and
to stop breathing normally. In those emergencies, CPR that includes mouth-to-mouth breathing
may provide more benefit than Hands-Only CPR. Some examples include:
• Unresponsive infants and children
• Adult victims who are found already unconscious and not breathing normally
• Victims of drowning or collapse due to breathing problems

Q: Is Hands Only CPR as effective as conventional CPR?

A. Hands-Only CPR performed by a bystander has been shown to be as effective as
conventional CPR (CPR that includes breaths) in the first few minutes of an out-of-hospital
sudden cardiac arrest. Provision of conventional CPR may be better than Hands-Only CPR for
certain victims, though, such as infants and children, adults who are found in cardiac arrest or
victims of drowning or collapse due to breathing problems. Any attempt at CPR is better than
no attempt.

Q: Will Hands-Only CPR increase the chance of a bystander taking action in a cardiac emergency?

A: Yes. In a national survey, Americans who have not been trained in CPR within the last 5
years stated that they would be more likely to perform Hands-Only CPR than conventional CPR
for an adult who collapses suddenly. In addition, Hands-Only CPR offers an easy to remember
and effective option to those bystanders who have been previously trained in CPR but are afraid
to help because they are not confident that they can remember and perform the steps of
conventional CPR.

Q: How did you decide to call it “Hands-Only” CPR?

A: The term “Hands-Only CPR” was developed through extensive consultation with
communications and resuscitation experts, and use of focus groups and nationally-based
surveys. The objective of this initiative was to develop a message that describes an effective
technique that the public will remember and perform to help an adult who suddenly collapses.
The overarching objective, of course, is to save more lives by encouraging more bystanders to
take immediate and appropriate action when they witness an adult suddenly collapse.

Give a Hand to Save Others from Sudden Cardiac Arrest Hands-OnlyTM CPR — Facts

Sudden cardiac arrest claims hundreds of thousands of lives each year. One of the main reasons is because no one at the scene does anything to help. In fact, less than one-third of sudden cardiac arrest victims receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Getting help right away — within a few minutes -- is the key to survival. People who have a sudden cardiac arrest and don’t get help right away will probably die.
Fortunately, the American Heart Association has a new way for anyone to step in and help adults who suddenly collapse -- Hands-OnlyTM CPR.

> Hands-Only CPR is CPR without mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths. It involves two easy steps: Call 911 and push hard and fast on the center of the chest. Don’t stop until help or an AED arrives.

> Anyone can perform Hands-Only CPR and everyone should perform it if they aren’t confident in their CPR skills or haven’t learned conventional CPR.

> Hands-Only CPR is easy to remember and results in delivery of more, uninterrupted chest compressions until more advanced care arrives on the scene.

> Bystanders must take action when they see someone suddenly collapse and stop breathing normally. When effective bystander CPR is given immediately after sudden cardiac arrest, it can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival. Hands-Only CPR can help save lives.

> Do not give Hands-Only CPR to infants and children — all infants and children who have a sudden cardiac arrest need conventional CPR.

> Adults who nearly-drown or have cardiac arrest due to a respiratory cause need conventional CPR.

Revised 10-07-09