CPR + AED, the full version
"Call, Call, C-D" — check responsiveness, call for help and get an AED, chest compressions, defibrillate
01 What to do now
- 01
Call (check responsiveness)
Tap the person's shoulder and shout loudly to confirm they're unresponsive, not breathing (or only gasping), and that the scene is safe for both of you
- 02
Call (for help)
Have someone nearby call your local emergency number and find an AED. If you're alone with an adult, call for help first and put the phone on speaker so the dispatcher can guide you while you do compressions; for a child under 8 or a drowning victim, if you have no phone on you, do about 2 minutes of CPR first, then go call for help
- 03
C — Chest compressions
Kneel beside the person, place the heel of your hand at the center of the chest between the nipples, press straight down at a rate of 100–120 per minute, to a depth of 5–6cm, without pausing for more than 10 seconds
- 04
If trained: rescue breaths
Untrained bystanders can do compressions only, without rescue breaths; if you're trained and willing, after 30 compressions open the airway and give 2 breaths, repeating in a 30:2 cycle
- 05
D — AED defibrillation
Turn it on, attach the pads as shown in the diagrams and plug in the connector; don't touch the patient while the machine is analyzing the heart rhythm; if it advises a shock, press the shock button, then resume chest compressions immediately after the shock — no need to remove the pads
02 Common myths
Not helping because you're not trained: compressions are always better than none — doing it imperfectly still gives a far higher survival rate than doing nothing, and the AED talks you through every step
Rushing to check for a pulse right after a shock: return to chest compressions immediately after a shock, and let the AED's next automatic analysis confirm the rhythm
Removing the AED pads to check on the patient: leave the pads in place — the AED automatically re-analyzes every 2 minutes
Legal protection: the law is on your side when you help someone
Taiwan's Emergency Medical Care Act, Article 14-2: "A person other than emergency medical personnel who uses emergency rescue equipment or administers first aid to save another person from imminent danger to life is protected under the Civil Code and Criminal Code's provisions on necessity defenses." In plain language: as long as you act in good faith, with the intent to help, without gross negligence or malice, you won't be held criminally or civilly liable even if the person doesn't survive or you accidentally crack a rib during compressions. This is general legal information, not advice for any specific case — actual outcomes still depend on the facts and a court's determination.
- Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China — Emergency Medical Care Act, Article 14-2 Professional / media source
- Ministry of Health and Welfare — Encouraging the public to help save lives: amendments to the Emergency Medical Care Act embracing a "no penalty for helping" spirit Professional / media source
03 Sources
- Tainan City Fire Bureau — Public CPR procedure guide Official source
- Taipei City Fire Department Disaster Prevention Education Cloud — CPR + AED Official source