Skip to site content

Hands On CPR

Call 931.363.7531

Next Steps

Hands-Only CPR has just two easy steps, performed in this order:

1.  Call 911 if you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse
2.  Push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of a familiar song that has 100 to 120 beats per minute


Music Can Save Lives

Song examples include "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees, "Crazy in Love" by Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira" or "Walk the Line" by Johnny Cash. People feel more confident performing Hands-Only CPR and are more likely to remember the correct rate when trained to the beat of a familiar song.

When performing CPR, you should push on the chest at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute, which corresponds to the beat of the song examples above.

Take 90 Seconds to Learn How to Save a Life

Watch the 90-second video. Visit heart.org/handsonlycpr to watch the Hands-Only CPR instructional video and share it with the important people in your life. Hands-Only CPR is a natural introduction to CPR, and the AHA encourages everyone to learn conventional CPR as a next step. You can find a CPR class near you at heart.org/findacourse.

NOTE: The AHA still recommends CPR with compressions and breaths for infants and children and victims of drowning, drug overdose, or people who collapse due to breathing problems.