How to do hands-only CPR
When an adult collapses and is not breathing normally, call 911 on speaker, send anyone nearby for a defibrillator, then kneel and press hard and fast in the center of the chest with both hands, at least two inches deep, at a pace of 100 to 120 pushes a minute. Let the chest rise between pushes and keep going until help takes over. Take a certified class.
Your neighbor collapses in the building's laundry room and is not breathing normally.
Why it matters: It is the single highest-value skill on this list, and bystanders make the difference.
In an emergency, call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, first. Reading a page is not training: take a certified class and practice on a manikin.
Steps
- Check the scene is safe, then tap the person and shout to see if they respond.
- Call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, on speaker, and send someone for the nearest defibrillator.
- If they are not breathing or only gasping, start CPR; gasping is not normal breathing.
- Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest, on the lower half of the breastbone, with the other hand on top.
- Keep your arms straight and shoulders over your hands, and push down at least two inches.
- Push at 100 to 120 a minute, letting the chest rise fully each time.
- When the defibrillator arrives, turn it on and do exactly what it says.
- Keep going until paramedics take over or the person starts breathing normally, swapping with a helper every two minutes if you can.
- Take a certified class so your hands know the depth and pace.
Stop and call a professional if
- always: call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, before or while you start; the dispatcher will coach you
- the person is an infant or a young child: the technique differs, and a certified class teaches it
Common mistakes
- Waiting to be certain before starting.
- Pressing too softly or too slowly.
- Pausing often to check for signs of life.
Teach this to someone
A one page sheet for showing a friend, a teenager or a parent: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to do hands-only CPR
What to say
When an adult collapses and is not breathing normally, call 911 on speaker, send anyone nearby for a defibrillator, then kneel and press hard and fast in the center of the chest with both hands, at least two inches deep, at a pace of 100 to 120 pushes a minute. Let the chest rise between pushes and keep going until help takes over. Take a certified class.
What to show
- Check the scene is safe, then tap the person and shout to see if they respond.
- Call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, on speaker, and send someone for the nearest defibrillator.
- If they are not breathing or only gasping, start CPR; gasping is not normal breathing.
- Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest, on the lower half of the breastbone, with the other hand on top.
- Keep your arms straight and shoulders over your hands, and push down at least two inches.
- Push at 100 to 120 a minute, letting the chest rise fully each time.
- When the defibrillator arrives, turn it on and do exactly what it says.
- Keep going until paramedics take over or the person starts breathing normally, swapping with a helper every two minutes if you can.
- Take a certified class so your hands know the depth and pace.
Where it stops
Stop and call a professional if always: call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, before or while you start; the dispatcher will coach you.
Check question
Where do your hands go?
Answer: Center of the chest, lower half of the breastbone. The center of the chest lets each push squeeze the heart.
Your checklist
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Quick quiz
Three questions. Your score is saved only in this browser.
Related skills
Sources
- US national CPR and emergency cardiovascular care guidelines, 2025. Reviewed September 28, 2026.
Written in our own words from the sources above. It is general information, not advice for your situation; where a professional, your doctor or your lease says something different, follow them.
Last reviewed . First published .