SOLDIER'S MANUAL AND TRAINER'S GUIDE - Fort Drum

STP 8-91W15-SM-TG
ADMINISTER EXTERNAL CHEST COMPRESSIONS
081-831-0046
Conditions: You are treating a casualty who is not breathing and has no pulse. The airway is
open and is clear. Another soldier who is CPR qualified may be available to assist or may arrive
while you are performing one-rescuer CPR. You are not in an NBC environment.
Standards: Continued CPR until the pulse was restored or until the rescuer(s) were relieved by
other qualified persons, stopped by a physician, or too tired to continue.
Performance Steps
Perform one-rescuer CPR.
1. Ensure that the casualty is positioned on a hard, flat surface.
2. Position the hands for external chest compressions.
a. With the middle and index fingers of the hand nearest the casualty's feet, locate the
lower margin of the casualty's rib cage on the side near the rescuer.
b. Move the fingers up the rib cage to the notch where the ribs meet the sternum in the
center of the lower part of the chest.
c. With the middle finger on the notch, place the index finger next to it on the lower end of
the sternum.
d. Place the heel of the other hand on the lower half of the sternum, next to the index
finger of the first hand.
e. Remove the first hand from the notch and place it on top of the hand on the sternum
so that both hands are parallel to each other.
NOTE: You may either extend or interlace your fingers but keep the fingers off the casualty's
chest.
3. Position your body.
a. Lock your elbows with the arms straight.
b. Position your shoulders directly over your hands.
4. Give 15 compressions.
a. Press straight down to depress the sternum 1.5 to 2 inches.
b. Come straight up and completely release pressure on the sternum to allow the chest to
return to its normal position. The time allowed for release should equal the time
required for compression.
CAUTION: Do not remove the heel of your hand from the casualty's chest or reposition your
hand between compressions.
c. Give 15 compressions in 9 to 11 seconds (at a rate of 100 per minute).
5. Give two full breaths.
a. Move quickly to the casualty's head and lean over.
b. Open the casualty's airway. (See task 081-831-0018.)
c. Give two full breaths (1.5 to 2 seconds each).
6. Repeat steps 2 through 5 four times.
7. Assess the casualty.
a. Check for the return of the carotid pulse for 3 to 5 seconds.
(1) If the pulse is present, continue with step 7b.
(2) If the pulse is absent, continue with step 8.
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