What is hands-only CPR?

Hands-only CPR is cardiopulmonary resuscitation using chest compressions without rescue breaths. The American Heart Association recommends it for untrained bystanders who witness an adult suddenly collapse, because it is simpler to learn and faster to start.

How deep and how fast should compressions be?

Push at least 2 inches deep on an adult chest, at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute, and let the chest recoil fully between compressions. Depth and rate both matter, and so does minimizing interruptions.

Can I hurt someone by performing CPR?

Rib fractures do happen, particularly in older adults. However, a person in cardiac arrest is clinically dead without intervention, and bystander CPR roughly doubles or triples the chance of survival. Doing nothing carries far greater risk than doing compressions imperfectly.

Does hands-only CPR work for children?

For infants and children, conventional CPR with rescue breaths is preferred, because pediatric arrests usually stem from breathing problems. If you are untrained or unwilling to give breaths, compressions alone remain much better than no CPR at all.

Why might a cardiac arrest patient need air medical transport?

After resuscitation, patients often need a cardiac catheterization lab, targeted temperature management, and intensive care that smaller hospitals cannot provide. When a physician determines a higher level of care is needed quickly, air medical transport can shorten that time. Dispatch always sends the closest first-available resource.

Does a PHI Cares Membership help with a cardiac emergency transport?

Yes. If a medically necessary emergency transport is performed by PHI Air Medical or a cooperative partner, members have $0 out-of-pocket responsibility according to membership terms. After a transport, members should contact the PHI Cares Membership Department so we can coordinate directly with the insurance provider.

Who can enroll in PHI Cares?

Most households in a PHI Cares service area can enroll, and one plan includes your spouse, dependents at your address, and up to 3 additional people at the same address. Federal law does not permit Medicaid participants to enroll in air medical membership programs. See the PHI Cares FAQ page for details and current eligibility information.

SERVING HAPPY, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

News, Resources, Tips, and Financial Security with PHI Cares Membership

Topic: Health & Wellness

Bystander performing hands-only CPR chest compressions on an adult.

Featured

September 29, 2026

Hands-Only CPR: How Ordinary Bystanders Change Cardiac Arrest Outcomes

Medically reviewed by James "Trae" Bane, BSN, CFRN, CMTE, Director of Clinical Standards, PHI Air Medical. Last reviewed September 29, 2026. Hands-only CPR is the simplest emergency skill most adults can learn. September 29 is World Heart Day, which makes this month a good deadline to finally learn it. The...

HIGHLIGHTS

Why Yellow is an Excellent Choice for Emergency Medical Helicopters

Understanding the PHI Air Medical Coverage Map

What is a Medevac Flight?

Are Air Ambulance Services Covered by Health Insurance?

September 29, 2026

Hands-Only CPR: How Ordinary Bystanders Change Cardiac Arrest Outcomes

Older adult using a handrail on well-lit stairs during Falls Prevention Awareness Week.

September 21, 2026

Falls Prevention Awareness Week: A Room-by-Room Plan for Older Adults

Falls Prevention Awareness Week runs September 21–25, 2026, and it opens on the first day of autumn for a reason. The National Council on Aging coordinates the observance through its National Falls Prevention Resource Center.¹ The message is direct. Falls are common, but they are not an inevitable part of...

Adult daughter walking outdoors with her older mother, who is in a higher-risk group for sepsis.

September 9, 2026

Sepsis Warning Signs: What Every Household Should Know This Sepsis Awareness Month

Sepsis warning signs are easy to miss, and that is exactly what makes sepsis so dangerous. September is Sepsis Awareness Month, and September 13 is World Sepsis Day. This is the right moment to learn what to watch for. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes sepsis as the...

fall-sports-safety-phi-helicopter-friday-night-standby

August 24, 2026

Fall Sports Safety: Protecting Young Athletes During August Practices

Fall Sports Safety: Protecting Young Athletes During August Practices Fall sports safety takes center stage every August, when football pads, cross country spikes, and soccer cleats come out of the closet weeks before the temperatures cool down. Preseason practices collide with the hottest stretch of the year, and that combination...