CPR

For someone in cardiac arrest, time is everything. Pushing is better than doing nothing.

The sequence

1. Tap the shoulders and check for a response.
2. Call 119 and put it on speakerphone. With others present, point at people — "you call 119, you fetch the AED."
3. Check for breathing — look for chest movement, within ten seconds.
4. If not breathing, start chest compressions.
5. When an AED arrives, switch it on and follow the voice prompts.
6. Don't stop until 119 arrives.

How to compress

• Place the heel of your hand on the centre of the chest (lower half of the breastbone) and put the other hand on top.
• Keep your arms straight and press vertically using your body weight.
• About 5cm deep for an adult.
• At 100–120 compressions a minute — think of a fast song's tempo.
• Let the chest rise fully between compressions (release pressure without lifting your hands).
• If you can't do rescue breaths, compression-only CPR is fine.

Children and infants

• Children — one or two hands, about one third the depth of the chest.
• Infants under one — two fingers on the centre of the chest.
• Tell 119 it's a child and they will guide you by phone.

Using an AED

1. Switch it on. Voice guidance begins.
2. Place the pads on bare skin as shown in the diagram.
3. Nobody touches the patient during analysis.
4. When told to press the shock button, shout "stand clear" and press.
5. Resume chest compressions immediately.

Where to go

• 119 emergency (multilingual interpretation available)
• Korean Red Cross www.redcross.or.kr (training)
• Your local fire station (free CPR training)
• 1577-1366 · 1345 interpretation

Questions people ask

What if I break a rib? Firm compressions can break ribs. Keep going anyway. In cardiac arrest, compressions are the only hope.

Must I do rescue breaths? If you aren't trained, compression-only is fine. Not stopping matters more.

How long do I continue? Until 119 arrives, or the person moves or breathes. Swap with someone else when you tire.

I don't know where an AED is. They are in subway stations, public buildings and large premises. 119 can tell you the nearest one.

Take care

Doing nothing for fear of "getting it wrong" is the worst outcome. Brain damage begins within minutes of cardiac arrest. Call 119 and push as they tell you. They will guide you precisely by phone.

Related

first-aid-basics · choking · electric-shock · call-119 · what-to-say-emergency

Source

National Fire Agency www.nfa.go.kr / As of 2026-08