Would You Recognize Cardiac Arrest? Here's How to Perform CPR on an Adult

October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month. Knowing what to look for and how to respond could help you save someone's life.

Imagine you're having dinner with your family when someone suddenly collapses. They aren't responding when you speak to them. You notice they're making strange gasping sounds.

Would you recognize what's happening?

Would you know what to do?

When someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest, their heart is no longer pumping blood effectively to the brain and other vital organs. Without immediate help, their chances of survival decrease rapidly.

The good news is that you don't need to be a healthcare professional to make a difference.

According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or even triple a person's chance of survival.

How Do You Recognize Cardiac Arrest?

Recognizing cardiac arrest quickly is one of the most important steps in saving someone's life.

There are two key signs to look for:

1. The person is unresponsive.

They may suddenly collapse or be found lying motionless.

Tap their shoulders and shout, "Are you okay?"

If they don't respond, that's a serious warning sign.

2. The person isn't breathing normally.

They may not be breathing at all, or they may be making occasional gasping, snorting, or irregular breathing sounds.

This is called agonal breathing, and it's commonly mistaken for normal breathing.

Gasping is NOT normal breathing.

A person experiencing cardiac arrest may still gasp for air, but that doesn't mean their heart is pumping blood effectively.

If an adult is unresponsive and isn't breathing normally, assume cardiac arrest and act immediately.

You do not need to spend time searching for a pulse if you're not a healthcare professional.

What Should You Do First?

Call 911 immediately.

If someone is nearby, direct them to call 911 and retrieve an AED if one is available.

If you're alone with a cellphone, call 911, put your phone on speaker, and follow the dispatcher's instructions while beginning CPR.

Don't wait for an ambulance before starting chest compressions.

The person needs help right now.

How to Perform CPR on an Adult

The American Heart Association's 2025 CPR guidelines continue to emphasize high-quality chest compressions.

Here's how to do them.

Step 1: Position Your Hands

Place the person on their back on a firm, flat surface, if you can do so safely.

Kneel beside their chest.

Place the heel of one hand in the center of their chest, on the lower half of the breastbone.

Place your other hand on top and interlock your fingers.

Keep your arms straight and position your shoulders directly above your hands.

Step 2: Push Hard and Fast

Begin chest compressions.

For an average adult, the American Heart Association recommends:

• Compression rate: 100–120 compressions per minute.

• Compression depth: At least 2 inches, but no more than 2.4 inches.

• Full chest recoil: Let the chest return to its normal position after each compression.

• Minimal interruptions: Keep compressions going with as few pauses as possible.

Use your upper body weight to push straight down.

Remember, CPR is physically demanding. If another person is available and knows how to help, switch compressors approximately every two minutes to prevent fatigue, keeping the interruption as short as possible.

Step 3: What About Rescue Breaths?

If you're an untrained bystander helping an adult who suddenly collapses, you can perform Hands-Only CPR.

That means continuously pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest without giving rescue breaths.

If you're trained and able to give rescue breaths, conventional CPR consists of 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths.

Each breath should last about one second and make the chest visibly rise.

The most important thing is not to delay chest compressions because you're unsure about giving breaths.

Step 4: Use an AED When Available

An automated external defibrillator (AED) can help restore an effective heart rhythm in certain cardiac arrests.

As soon as an AED arrives, turn it on and follow the voice instructions.

The AED will guide you through applying the pads and analyzing the person's heart rhythm.

It will only advise a shock when appropriate.

Continue CPR as instructed by the AED, and resume compressions immediately after a shock or when the device tells you no shock is advised.

Step 5: Keep Going

Continue CPR until emergency responders take over, the person begins showing clear signs of life, you're physically unable to continue, or the scene becomes unsafe.

You don't have to perform CPR perfectly to make a difference.

Doing something is far better than doing nothing.

Three Things Everyone Should Remember

If you remember nothing else from this article, remember these three things:

1. Unresponsive + not breathing normally = suspect cardiac arrest.

2. Call 911 and start CPR immediately.

3. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest, and use an AED as soon as one is available.

Those simple actions can help save a life.

The Person Who Needs CPR Could Be Someone You Love

Many people picture cardiac arrest happening in a crowded restaurant or public building.

But a large number of cardiac arrests happen at home.

That means the person who needs your help could be your spouse, parent, adult child, or close friend.

Would you know what to do?

Learning CPR isn't about becoming a medical professional. It's about being prepared to help when someone needs you most.

Learn CPR at Live & Learn CPR

At Live & Learn CPR, we believe everyone should feel confident recognizing cardiac arrest and taking action.

Our small, hands-on CPR and AED classes give students the opportunity to practice chest compressions, learn to use an AED, and ask questions in a comfortable environment.

We're located in downtown Havre de Grace, Maryland, and welcome students from Aberdeen and throughout Harford County.

This October, in recognition of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, make learning CPR a priority.

You never know when someone might need you.