Grade by Grade
A–B. Active Living and Movement Competence · Active Living and Movement: Move Well, Train Smart, Stay Safe

Hands That Help: CPR and AEDs

A3.3 1.3About 70 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can describe the steps of the response sequence for a person who has collapsed.
  • I can explain how to give high-quality chest compressions: position, depth, rate and recoil.
  • I can practise CPR technique on a mannequin or a firm practice object, never on a person.
  • I can explain what an AED does, how to use one, and where AEDs are found in my community.
  • I can communicate clearly with bystanders and 911 during a cardiac emergency.

Words to know

cardiac arrest
When the heart suddenly stops pumping blood effectively. The person collapses, is unresponsive and stops breathing normally.
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
Chest compressions (with or without rescue breaths) that keep some blood flowing to the brain and heart until help or an AED arrives.
Hands-Only CPR
CPR with continuous chest compressions and no rescue breaths, recommended for people who are untrained or unwilling to give breaths.
AED (automated external defibrillator)
A portable device that checks the heart's rhythm and, if needed, delivers a shock to help it return to a normal rhythm. It gives spoken instructions.
recoil
Letting the chest come all the way back up between compressions so the heart can refill with blood.
agonal breathing
Gasping or irregular breaths that are not normal breathing. A person gasping after collapsing needs CPR.

Remember from Grade 8

In Grade 8 you learned that for someone who is unresponsive and not breathing normally, you call 911 and get an AED, and the AED gives spoken instructions. In Grade 9, expectation A3.3 asks you to understand CPR techniques and when and how to use them, practise on a mannequin, and know where AEDs are in your community.

Important: this lesson teaches the knowledge. A certified CPR course (offered by organizations such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance and the Lifesaving Society) gives you hands-on practice and a certificate. Because CPR is part of this Grade 9 course, many schools run hands-on practice with mannequins.

Hook: four minutes

When the heart stops pumping in cardiac arrest, blood stops reaching the brain. Without help, brain damage can begin within minutes. Paramedics often can't arrive that fast. So the most important people in a cardiac arrest are usually the bystanders: the people already there who start CPR and get an AED. A teenager who knows what to do can be the difference between life and death.

The response sequence

  1. Check the scene is safe for you.
  2. Check the person: tap their shoulders and shout, "Are you OK?"
  3. Call for help: point to someone: "You, call 911 and put it on speaker. You, get the AED." If you're alone with a phone, call 911 on speaker yourself.
  4. Check breathing: look at the chest for no more than 10 seconds. Gasping is not normal breathing.
  5. If not breathing normally, start chest compressions right away.
  6. Use the AED as soon as it arrives. Keep doing CPR while someone opens it.
  7. Keep going until paramedics take over, the person starts breathing normally or moving, the AED tells you to stop, or you're too exhausted to continue (switch with another trained person every 2 minutes if you can).

High-quality chest compressions (for a teen or adult)

  • Where: the person is on their back on a firm surface. Put the heel of one hand on the centre of the chest (lower half of the breastbone), other hand on top, fingers off the ribs.
  • Position: kneel beside them, shoulders directly over your hands, arms straight. Push with your body weight, not your arm muscles.
  • Depth: push hard, at least 5 cm (but not more than about 6 cm).
  • Rate: push fast, 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Many people use the beat of the song Stayin' Alive (about 103 beats per minute) to keep pace.
  • Recoil: let the chest come all the way back up between pushes.
  • Minimize pauses: every pause stops blood flow.

Rescue breaths: people trained in CPR may give cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths. If you're not trained or not comfortable giving breaths, do Hands-Only CPR: continuous compressions. Hands-Only CPR by a bystander is far better than doing nothing.

push hard:at least 5 cmpush fast: 100 to 120 per minuteshoulders over hands,arms straightheel of hand on centreof chest, other hand on top
Chest compression position (side view, simplified): kneel beside the person, arms straight, shoulders over your hands, heel of the hand on the centre of the chest. Push hard and fast, and let the chest come back up.

Using an AED

AEDs are designed for anyone to use; the device talks you through each step.

  1. Turn it on (open the lid or press the power button) and follow the voice prompts.
  2. Expose the chest and wipe it dry if wet.
  3. Attach the pads as shown on the pictures: usually one on the upper right chest below the collarbone and one on the lower left side below the armpit.
  4. Stand clear while the AED analyzes the rhythm. Say loudly: "Everyone stand clear!"
  5. If a shock is advised, make sure no one is touching the person, then press the shock button (some AEDs shock automatically).
  6. Restart CPR right away after the shock (or if no shock is advised), and keep following the prompts.

Where are AEDs? In many public places in Ontario: arenas, community centres, schools, pools, gyms, shopping malls, airports, libraries and workplaces. Look for a sign showing a heart with a lightning bolt. Knowing the nearest AED to your school, rink or field saves precious time.

front of chestpad 1pad 2upper right chest,below the collarbonelower left side,below the armpit(the person's right and left)
Typical AED pad placement on an adult or teen: pad 1 on the upper right chest below the collarbone, pad 2 on the lower left side below the armpit. Always follow the pictures on the pads.
Worked example

Let's walk through a collapse at the arena

During a pick-up hockey game, an adult player collapses on the bench. He doesn't respond when you tap and shout, and he's making occasional gasping sounds. You and three friends are there. Model the response.

  1. Scene safe? Yes: the bench area is clear. (On the ice, be careful of skates and slippery surfaces.)
  2. Responsive? No. You shout for help and assign jobs (communication, 1.3): "Amir, call 911 on speaker. Jade, get the AED by the front doors. Noah, go to the entrance to meet the paramedics."
  3. Breathing normally? You look for no more than 10 seconds. Occasional gasping is not normal breathing, so this is cardiac arrest.
  4. CPR: move him onto his back on the floor, kneel beside him, and start compressions: centre of chest, arms straight, at least 5 cm deep, 100 to 120 per minute. Count out loud.
  5. AED: Jade arrives and turns it on. You keep compressing while she attaches the pads. When the AED says to stand clear, you stop and everyone backs off. Shock advised: Jade checks no one is touching, presses the button. You restart compressions immediately.
  6. Continue following the AED prompts and switching compressors every 2 minutes if someone else is trained, until paramedics take over.

Check, call (with specific jobs), recognize gasping as not breathing normally, start compressions right away, use the AED as soon as it arrives, and minimize pauses.

Worked example

Let's check the compression math

A rescuer does compressions at 110 per minute for 2 minutes before switching. How many compressions is that? If a trained rescuer uses 30:2 cycles, about how many cycles of 30 fit in 2 minutes if each 2-breath pause takes about 10 seconds?

  1. Hands-Only: 110 × 2 = 220 compressions in 2 minutes.
  2. One 30:2 cycle: 30 compressions at 110 per minute take 30 ÷ 110 × 60 ≈ 16.4 s, plus about 10 s for breaths ≈ 26.4 s.
  3. Cycles in 120 s: 120 ÷ 26.4 ≈ 4.5, so about 4 to 5 cycles.
  4. Notice: pauses for breaths cut into compression time. That's why pauses must be short.

220 compressions with Hands-Only CPR; about 4 to 5 cycles of 30:2 in 2 minutes.

Hands-on activity

Find your AEDs and practise compression rhythm

You need: a firm couch cushion or a firmly rolled-up towel or pillow on the floor, a phone with a metronome app (or the song Stayin' Alive), a timer, and a notebook. Never practise compressions on a person or a pet.

  1. AED hunt (homework walk): with a grown-up, find the AEDs at your school, local arena or community centre, and library. Write down exactly where each one is (for example, "beside the front desk, on the wall by the washrooms").
  2. Body position (5 min): kneel beside the cushion, stack your hands with the heel of the bottom hand on the centre, lock your elbows, and put your shoulders over your hands.
  3. Rhythm (10 min): set a metronome to 110. Do 30 compressions, counting out loud. Rest 30 seconds. Repeat 5 times. Then try 2 minutes without stopping (that's about 220 compressions) to feel how tiring it is.
  4. Talk it through: say the response sequence out loud while you practise: "Scene safe. Are you OK? You, call 911! You, get the AED! Not breathing normally. Starting compressions."
  5. Next step: find a certified CPR course near you (many are a few hours long).

Safety: A cushion can't show depth correctly, so this is only for rhythm and body position; a real mannequin in a course teaches depth. Stop if your wrists or back hurt.

Your turn

1

List the seven steps of the response sequence.

2

Where do you place your hands for chest compressions?

3

How deep and how fast should compressions be for a teen or adult?

4

What is Hands-Only CPR and who should use it?

5

What does an AED do?

6

Name four places in the community where AEDs are often found.

7

Why does recoil matter?

More practice: warm-up

1

What does CPR stand for?

2

What does AED stand for?

3

Is gasping normal breathing?

4

What ratio of compressions to breaths do trained rescuers use?

5

What should everyone do while the AED analyzes or shocks?

More practice: on your own

1

Why should you assign specific people to call 911 and get the AED?

2

How many compressions would you give in 90 seconds at 100 per minute? At 120 per minute?

3

Explain why you should keep doing CPR while someone else attaches the AED pads.

4

A friend says, "I'd be scared of hurting the person, so I wouldn't do CPR." Respond.

5

The AED says "No shock advised." What do you do?

Challenge

1

A rescuer pushes at 140 compressions per minute but only 3 cm deep. Explain two problems and how to fix them.

2

Plan an AED map for your school or a local arena: list where you'd post signs and why location matters.

3

Explain why communication (living skill 1.3) is as important as compression technique in a cardiac arrest.

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

A person collapses and is gasping. You should treat this as:

2.

The correct compression rate is:

3.

For a teen or adult, compressions should be at least:

4.

When should you use an AED?

5.

While the AED is analyzing, you should:

6.

Hands-Only CPR means:

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Expectation A3.3 asks students to understand CPR techniques and when and how to apply them: the response sequence, compressions on a mannequin, and what AEDs are for and where they are found locally.

How to help at home:

  • Do the AED hunt together at your local arena, community centre or library.
  • Consider a certified CPR course as a family; many organizations offer short courses.
  • Practise the response sequence out loud.

Common difficulties:

  • Fear of hurting the person. Reassure them that doing CPR is far better than doing nothing; Ontario's Good Samaritan Act, 2001 protects people who help in good faith.
  • Compressions too fast or too shallow. A metronome at 110 helps rhythm; depth needs a real mannequin.

Safety and sensitivity: Never let anyone practise compressions on a person or a pet. Some teens may find this topic upsetting if they have lost someone to cardiac arrest; talk with them about it. No joke block is included in this lesson.