American Heart Association OKs Compression-Only CPR for Adults

The American Heart Association has agreed with a recent study that found giving compression-only CPR (without mouth-to-mouth assisted breathing) works just as well as standard CPR for sudden cardiac arrest in adults.

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation which previously included mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in combination with chest compressions. Now, for adults who suddenly collapse, a new study provides evidence that chest compression is just as effective. In fact, interrupting chest compressions to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation may do more harm than good.

Ken Nagao, M.D., of Surugadai Nihon University Hospital in Tokyo, and fellow researchers reviewed the outcomes of 4,068 adults who had an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest witnessed by bystanders. The study found:

• More than 70 percent of the time, bystanders did nothing when a person suddenly collapsed.These victims were less likely to survive, and more likely to have brain damage if they did survive.
• 11 percent of patients got chest compressions only without mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. These victims were 2.2 times less likely to suffer brain damage.

Experts hope that bystanders will be more likely to help if they see someone suddenly collapse. Hands-only CPR is simpler and easier to remember, and it removes the concern that many people have about the safety of putting their mouths on the mouth of a stranger.


With the new CPR recommendation, you now only have to remember two things:

1. Call 911, and
2. Start uninterrupted chest compressions (100 a minute) until paramedics arrive.

This action should be taken only for adults who unexpectedly collapse, stop breathing and are unresponsive. A child who collapses is more likely to have breathing problems. For children, mouth-to-mouth breathing should still be used.