The 5 Steps, Explained
When an emergency happens, what you do in the first few seconds matters just as much as the CPR itself. After more than three decades in the fire service, I can tell you the rescuers who stay calm and follow a simple sequence are the ones who save lives. The infographic above lays out the 5 steps to take before you perform CPR or respond to any emergency. Here is the supporting detail for each step.
1. Scene Safety
In every emergency, before any care is given to a victim, you want to make sure you (the rescuer) stay safe. Take two seconds and look for any hazard: traffic, fire, downed power lines, an unstable vehicle.
Rookie Mistake: Panicking and rushing into the scene without checking first, and becoming part of the problem. Two victims are worse than one.
2. Assess the Victim
Check for breathing. Look for the rise and fall of the chest, abdomen, or diaphragm, and tap the shoulders and shout to see if they respond. Keep in mind a point the American Heart Association’s 2025 Guidelines drive home: occasional gasps (agonal breathing) are not normal breathing. A victim who is only gasping needs CPR.
3. Calling 9-1-1
Have someone call 9-1-1. Point at a bystander and make it their job. If you are by yourself and the victim is breathing, put the victim in the recovery position and then call 9-1-1. If the victim is not breathing, call 9-1-1 on speakerphone right away so you can begin CPR while you talk; today’s dispatchers can even coach you through it.
Rookie Mistake: Calling 9-1-1 before getting all your facts and assessing the patient, or yelling at the dispatcher. Be calm and answer their questions. Arguing only delays the response.
4. Recovery Position
If the victim is unresponsive but breathing normally, roll the victim onto their side. This keeps the airway open and lets fluids drain out instead of down the airway.
Rookie Mistake: Leaving the victim flat on their back without rolling them into the recovery position.
5. Personal Protection
Protect yourself from viruses carried in blood and bodily fluids. Use personal protective equipment (PPE); this should include gloves, a mouth barrier, and an antimicrobial wipe.
Rookie Mistake: Using a paper filter mouth barrier; this will give you ZERO protection. Use a mouth barrier with a bite piece and two one-way valves.
Then: Start CPR
Once the scene is safe, the victim is assessed, help is on the way, and you are protected, begin CPR if the victim is not breathing. Training is free. Taking the test is free. You only pay if you need a certificate. Start your free CPR training here.
