If you only ever learn one lifesaving skill, make it this one. Hands-only CPR is continuous chest compressions with no rescue breaths — proven to save lives for teens and adults who suddenly collapse, and simple enough for anyone to do.
The steps
- Check. Tap and shout. If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally (or only gasping), act.
- Call. Phone 911 and put it on speaker. Send someone for an AED if one is nearby.
- Push. Place the heel of one hand in the center of the chest, your other hand on top, and push hard and fast — 100 to 120 compressions a minute, at least 2 inches deep. Let the chest come all the way back up between pushes.
- Keep going. Don't stop until EMS takes over or an AED is ready to use. Swap with someone every two minutes if you can.
Find the beat
"Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees runs at about the right tempo — roughly 103 beats per minute, right inside the 100–120 range.
Watching is a start — practice is the goal
A video builds awareness, but your hands learn by doing. In a class you push on a real manikin until the rate and depth are automatic. See what to expect in a Heartsaver class or book a class.