Medical · 6 min read
CPR and AED: The 100-Per-Minute Protocol
When a heart stops, the people nearby decide the outcome — no training required, only knowledge and the resolve to push hard and fast.
Anyone can do this
When a heart stops, everyone nearby has a chance to save a life — no medical training required, only knowledge and the resolve to act.
The protocol
- Confirm unresponsive: ask loudly "Can you hear me?" and squeeze the shoulder. Check breathing for up to 10 seconds.
- Get help: send someone to call emergency services and bring an AED. Alone with an adult who collapsed suddenly — call first, then start. Alone with a child, a drowning, or a suspected overdose — 2 minutes of CPR first, then call. In a crisis with no help coming — skip the call and start now.
- Compressions: heel of the palm on the centre of the chest; push 5–6 cm deep at 100–120 a minute — the tempo of "Stayin' Alive."
- 30:2: 30 compressions, then 2 rescue breaths. Unsure about breaths? Compressions only, without stopping — continuous compressions save lives.
- AED: turn it on, follow the voice prompts, attach the pads. Don't touch the person during analysis or shock; resume compressions immediately afterwards.
When to stop
Continue until professionals take over, the person shows clear signs of life, or you are completely exhausted. Compressions tire you fast — if others are present, swap every two minutes to keep depth and rate up.