How to Do Compression-Only CPR Step by Step

Compression-only CPR is an emergency response that uses repeated chest compressions without rescue breaths. It is intended mainly for a collapsed adult who is unresponsive and not breathing normally, particularly when a bystander has not been trained in full cardiopulmonary resuscitation or does not want to give mouth-to-mouth breaths.

Every second matters during cardiac arrest. Chest compressions keep some blood moving to the brain and heart until an ambulance crew or an automated external defibrillator (AED) arrives. This guide explains the basic sequence, but practical training through an Australian first-aid provider remains the best way to build confidence.

In Australia, call Triple Zero (000) for urgent emergency help. Put the phone on speaker so the operator can give instructions while you begin CPR. If you are looking for broader preparedness information alongside emergency guidance, first-aid resources may also help you plan what to keep at home or in the car.

Recognise The Emergency And Call 000

First, check that the area is safe for you, the person and anyone nearby. Look for traffic, live electrical equipment, fire, smoke, aggressive animals or other hazards. If the scene is unsafe, move away and wait for emergency services rather than becoming another casualty.

Tap the person firmly on the shoulders and speak loudly: “Are you alright?” If there is no response, look for normal breathing. Occasional gasps, irregular snorting or slow, abnormal breaths are not normal breathing and should be treated as cardiac arrest. Call 000 immediately, or direct a specific person by saying, “You in the blue shirt, call 000 and bring the AED.”

If you are alone with an adult, call 000 on your mobile phone, activate speaker mode and start compressions. The Triple Zero operator may ask whether the person is conscious and breathing, then guide you through the next steps. Do not spend time checking for a pulse if you are an untrained bystander, because delays reduce the chance of effective resuscitation.

Prepare The Person And Your Position

Place the person flat on their back on a firm surface, such as a floor or the ground. A mattress is too soft for effective compressions. If the person has collapsed on a bed, move them to the floor only if you can do so safely and without a long delay. Remove bulky clothing from the chest if it prevents you finding the correct position.

Kneel beside the chest, usually with your shoulders directly above the person’s sternum. Straighten your arms and lock your elbows. Your body weight should drive the movement rather than your arm muscles alone. This position helps you maintain a steady depth and rhythm, which is important if compressions continue for several minutes.

Do not stop to search for a blanket, towel or cleaning product unless the person is in immediate danger from the environment. For general household preparedness, a practical suede couch cleaning checklist can be useful for everyday spills, but it should never delay an emergency call or resuscitation.

Find The Hand Position And Rhythm

Put the heel of one hand in the centre of the person’s chest, on the lower half of the breastbone. Place your other hand on top and interlock your fingers, keeping them away from the ribs. For a large adult, this central position allows the breastbone to move down and return safely between compressions.

Press down hard and fast at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. A familiar rhythm is the beat of “Stayin’ Alive,” although any consistent tempo in that range is suitable. For an average adult, aim for a depth of about 5 to 6 centimetres, allowing the chest to fully recoil after every push.

Keep your shoulders over your hands and use a straight downward motion. Avoid leaning on the chest between compressions, as incomplete recoil reduces the heart’s ability to refill. Do not pause to check breathing repeatedly. Once you begin, continue until an AED directs you to stop, another trained person takes over, the person shows clear signs of life, or professional responders arrive.

Keep Compressions Effective

Fatigue can make compressions shallower and slower. If another capable person is available, change compressors about every two minutes, ideally during an AED analysis or another necessary pause. Make the handover quickly, with as few interruptions as possible. The person taking over should place their hands before the first rescuer stops.

Compression-only CPR does not involve mouth-to-mouth breaths. This can make it easier for a bystander to start immediately, especially in a public place or when there is concern about infection. It is still important to follow the 000 operator’s instructions and use standard CPR with breaths when trained rescuers are willing and the situation calls for it.

Continue watching the chest and face for signs of recovery, but do not stop simply because the person makes a small movement or an occasional gasp. Clear signs of life include normal breathing, purposeful movement or opening their eyes and responding. If they begin breathing normally but remain unconscious, place them in the recovery position if there is no suspected spinal injury and keep monitoring them.

Use An AED And Coordinate Help

An AED can assess the heart rhythm and deliver a shock when one is appropriate. Ask someone to find the nearest device while you continue compressions. In Australia, AEDs are commonly found in places such as shopping centres, gyms, workplaces, airports, sporting clubs and community facilities. Staff or bystanders may know where one is located, and the 000 operator may help identify nearby equipment.

When the AED arrives, turn it on and follow its spoken or visual instructions. Expose and dry the chest if necessary, then attach the pads exactly as shown in the diagrams. Keep everyone clear while the device analyses the rhythm or delivers a shock. Immediately resume compressions when the AED tells you to do so.

If the person has collapsed after drowning, choking, an opioid overdose or another breathing-related event, rescue breaths are particularly important when a trained rescuer is available. Children and infants also commonly suffer cardiac arrest from breathing problems, so full CPR with breaths is preferred for them. If you cannot or will not provide breaths, compression-only CPR is still better than doing nothing while help is coming.

Practical Reminders For Bystanders

The most useful action is a prompt, organised response rather than waiting for perfect certainty. A dispatcher can support you, and an AED is designed for use by members of the public. Do not be afraid that compressions might injure the person; a person in cardiac arrest needs immediate treatment, and broken ribs can occur even when CPR is performed correctly.

Use these reminders when responding:

• Check the area for danger before approaching the collapsed person.
• Confirm unresponsiveness and abnormal or absent breathing.
• Call Triple Zero (000), use speaker mode and send someone for an AED.
• Place both hands in the centre of an adult’s chest.
• Compress at 100 to 120 times per minute and about 5 to 6 centimetres deep.
• Allow the chest to rise fully and keep pauses as short as possible.
• Follow AED prompts and continue until trained help takes over or the person clearly recovers.

After the ambulance crew arrives, give them a brief account of what happened, when compressions began, whether an AED was used and whether the person showed any changes. They may ask you to continue or move aside. Cooperate with their directions, then write down what you remember if the police, ambulance service or hospital requests a statement.

CPR can be physically and emotionally demanding. If you have been involved in a resuscitation attempt, seeking support from a health professional, a trusted person or a local support service can be appropriate. For information about the publishing site and its general-interest approach, visit SASReCon’s background.