If a person is not breathing normally after an accident you should call for an ambulance and then, if you are able to, start CPR (also known as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) straight away.

CPR, or cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, is a combination of rescue breaths and chest compressions to keep blood and oxygen circulating in the body. You don't have to do mouth to mouth to save a life.

CHECK the person is unresponsive and not breathing.

CALL - Get someone to call 999 or 112 or call yourself, start compressions-push hard and fast in the centre of the chest and do not stop till help arrives. For more information see www.citizencpr.ie

For adults

If you know how to do CPR

1. Place your hands on the centre of the person's chest and, with the heel of your hand, press down (4-5cm) at a steady rate, slightly faster than one compression a second.
2. After every 30 chest compressions, give two breaths.
3. Pinch the person's nose. Seal your mouth over their mouth and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth. Check that their chest rises. Give two rescue breaths, each over one second.
4. Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives.

For children

For children aged one to puberty (usually taken as 12 years).

1. Open their airway by placing one hand on the child's forehead and gently tilting their head back and lifting the chin. Remove any visible obstructions from the mouth and nose.
2. Pinch their nose. Seal your mouth over their mouth and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth, check that their chest rises. Give five initial rescue breaths.
3. Place your hands on the centre of their chest and, with the heel of your hand, press down one-third of the depth of the chest using one or two hands.
4. After every 30 chest compressions (at a steady rate, slightly faster than one compression a second) givetwo breaths.
5. Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives.

For babies under one

1. Open the baby's airway by placing one hand on their forehead and gently tilting the head back and lifting the chin. Remove any visible obstructions from the mouth and nose.
2. Place your mouth over the mouth and nose of the infant and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth, check that their chest rises. Give five initial rescue breaths.
3. Place two fingers in the middle of the chest and press down one third of the depth of the chest. After 30 chest compressions at a steady rate (slightly faster than one compression a second) give two breaths.
4. Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until they begin to recover, or emergency help arrives.