Understanding CPR and the DRSABCD Action Plan
October 16, 2025
CPR – The Lifesaving Skill Everyone Should Know
Imagine you’re at a backyard BBQ with family and friends when someone suddenly collapses. They’re not breathing, and their pulse is fading. Would you know what to do?
In those critical moments, your actions could be the difference between life and death. That’s where CPR – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation – comes in.
What Is CPR?
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency lifesaving technique used when someone’s heart stops beating or they stop breathing. It involves chest compressions to manually pump blood through the body and, if trained, rescue breaths to deliver oxygen to the lungs.
In Australia, CPR follows the DRSABCD Action Plan:
- D – Danger: Check for hazards.
- R – Response: Check if the person responds.
- S – Send for help: Call Triple Zero (000).
- A – Airway: Make sure it’s clear.
- B – Breathing: Check for normal breathing.
- C – CPR: If not breathing, begin 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths.
- D – Defibrillation: Use an AED as soon as possible.
How CPR Saves Lives
When the heart stops, oxygen supply to the brain and organs stops too. Within minutes, brain damage can begin, and death can follow shortly after.
CPR acts as a manual pump, circulating blood and oxygen until the heart can be restarted, often with a defibrillator (AED).
According to the Australian Resuscitation Council, every minute without CPR reduces a person’s chance of survival by approximately 10%. Quick action — even from a bystander — can literally save a life.
A Brief History of CPR
The idea of resuscitation goes back centuries. In 1732, Scottish surgeon William Tossach recorded a successful case of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a miner.
Modern CPR as we know it was developed in the 1960s by researchers James Jude, Peter Safar, and William Kouwenhoven, who combined chest compressions with rescue breathing.
By the 1970s, public CPR training became widespread — and the skill has saved millions of lives ever since.
CPR Success Rates – The Numbers Speak for Themselves
Statistics from Ambulance Victoria show that immediate bystander CPR can double or triple survival rates.
In Victoria, when CPR and an AED were used before paramedics arrived, survival reached 47%, compared with only 32% without bystander action.
Across Australia, early CPR remains one of the most powerful interventions — bridging the gap between collapse and advanced medical care.
Western Australia: A World Leader in Cardiac Arrest Survival
According to St John Ambulance Western Australia (SJWA), the state is among the best in the world for cardiac arrest survival.
From the 2023 Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Report:
- 3,133 cardiac arrests attended in 2023
- 81% of patients received bystander CPR before ambulance arrival
- 16% of cases had a pre-ambulance AED shock
- 39.6% survival rate in the “Utstein comparator group”
- Regional WA (11.4%) survival exceeded metro (11.1%)
Bystander CPR and AED use are key reasons WA has become a world leader in cardiac arrest outcomes.
How to Perform Adult CPR (Quick Guide)
- Ensure safety for yourself and others.
- Check for responsiveness and breathing. If not breathing normally, call 000 immediately.
- Begin chest compressions:
- Place the heel of your hand on the centre of the chest.
- Push down firmly, 5–6 cm deep.
- Maintain a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute (think of the beat of “Stayin’ Alive”).
- Add 2 rescue breaths after every 30 compressions (if trained and confident).
- Continue CPR until the person starts breathing, an AED is ready, or medical help arrives.
If you’re not confident with rescue breaths, perform compression-only CPR — continuous chest compressions without stopping.
Why You Should Learn CPR
- Most cardiac arrests happen at home or in public places.
- You can act immediately and confidently.
- You become the first link in the “Chain of Survival” — early recognition, early CPR, early defibrillation, and early advanced care.
CPR isn’t just a skill — it’s an act of courage and community care that can save someone you love.
Empower Yourself to Save a Life
CPR is a simple skill that anyone can learn — and it can save someone you love. Every minute counts, and early CPR truly makes a difference.
At Medisync Training, we deliver accredited First Aid and CPR courses in Perth, including:
- HLTAID009 – Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- HLTAID012 – Child Care First Aid
Our hands-on sessions are run by qualified health professionals who guide you through real-world scenarios and practical exercises.
Enrol today to gain confidence, certification, and the ability to act when it matters most.
Visit www.medisynctraining.com.au to book your next CPR or First Aid course.
References
Allens Training Pty Ltd. (2023). Comprehensive First Aid Manual – Unbranded Edition.
Australian Resuscitation Council (2021). Guideline 8 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
Ambulance Victoria (2024). VACAR Report 2023–24.
St John Ambulance Western Australia (2023). Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Report 2023.
American Heart Association. History of CPR.
Safe Work Australia (2020). Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2023). Causes of Death, Australia.