How to do indirect cardiac massage during first aid

According to Erste-Hilfe Kurs München if there is no pulse along with breathing, an indirect heart massage must be performed.

Indirect (closed) heart massage, or chest compressions, is the compression of the heart muscles between the sternum and the spine in order to maintain the circulation of the person when the heart stops. It refers to elementary resuscitation measures.

Warning form Erste Hilfe Kurs münchen ostbahnhof. Do not perform closed heart massage in the presence of a pulse.

The indirect heart massage technique

At Erste Hilfe Kurs they teach to do indirect heart massage in five steps:

1. Place the victim on a flat hard surface. Do not compress the chest on a bed or other soft surface.
2. Locate the victim’s xiphoid process. The xiphoid process is the shortest and narrowest part of the sternum, its end.
3. Measure 2-4 cm up from the xiphoid process, this is the point of compression.
4. Place the base of your palm on the compression point. The thumb should point either to the chin or abdomen of the victim, depending on the location of the resuscitator. Place the other palm on top of one hand, with the fingers interlocked. The pressure is applied strictly with the base of the palm – your fingers should not touch the victim’s sternum.
5. Give rhythmic pushes to the chest strongly, smoothly, strictly vertically, by the weight of the upper half of your body. The frequency is 100-110 pushes per minute. At the same time, the thorax should sag by 3-4 cm.

For infants, the indirect heart massage is done with the index and middle finger of one hand. Adolescents – with the palm of one hand.

If ventilatory ventilation is performed simultaneously with closed heart massage, every two breaths should be alternated with 30 chest compressions.