CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a lifesaving technique that is used when someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. It involves a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths to help restore circulation and oxygenation to the body. Although CPR is a critical skill that everyone should learn, performing CPR on a person with a disability can present unique challenges that require special considerations.
According to the Resuscitation Council UK (Guidelines 2025), the principles of CPR remain the same for all casualties, regardless of whether they have a disability or not. However, there may be some variations in technique and approach that need to be considered. For example, if the person has a physical disability that affects their ability to breathe or move, the rescuer may need to adapt their approach to ensure that the chest compressions and rescue breaths are effective.
It is also important to consider the person’s individual needs and preferences when performing CPR. For example, if the person is deaf or hard of hearing, the rescuer may need to use visual cues or written instructions to communicate effectively. Similarly, if the person has a learning disability or autism, the rescuer may need to adjust their approach to ensure that the person understands what is happening and feels safe and supported throughout the process.
Last reviewed: September 2026 — checked against Resuscitation Council UK Guidelines 2025.
Understanding Disabilities and CPR
Performing CPR on a person with a disability can be different from performing CPR on a person without a disability. It is important to understand the type of disability the person has and how it may affect their breathing and circulation. Disabilities that affect the respiratory system, such as muscular dystrophy or spinal cord injuries, can make it difficult for a person to breathe on their own. Disabilities that affect the circulatory system, such as heart conditions or stroke, can make it difficult for a person’s heart to pump blood effectively.
When performing CPR on a person with a disability, it is important to take into consideration any adaptations or modifications that may need to be made. For example, a person with a physical disability may require assistance with positioning to ensure that their airway is open and that compressions are effective. A person with a hearing impairment may require visual cues or written instructions to understand what is happening during the CPR process.
It is also important to understand that not all disabilities are visible. A person with an intellectual or developmental disability may not be able to communicate their needs or understand what is happening during the CPR process. It is important to be patient and take the time to communicate effectively with the person and any caregivers or support staff who may be present.
Adapting CPR for People with Disabilities
Performing CPR on a person with a disability may require some adaptations to the standard CPR procedure. Here are some tips to help you adapt CPR for people with disabilities:
- Positioning: Get the person flat on their back on a firm surface, ideally the floor. If they are in a wheelchair, apply the brakes, release any straps or harness and, with help if it is available, lower them to the ground. Do not attempt chest compressions while someone is still sitting in a wheelchair or an armchair – compressions can only be effective with the casualty lying on their back on a firm surface. Moving them takes seconds and is worth it.
- Compression: Chest compressions are always given on the centre of the chest (the lower half of the breastbone) with the person lying on their back on a firm surface – this does not change if the person has a spinal injury or limited mobility. If a casualty with a suspected spinal injury is not already on their back, carefully turn them onto their back, keeping the head and body aligned where possible, so you can give effective compressions; restoring circulation takes priority. Never perform compressions on a person’s side or stomach.
- Rescue breaths: If the person is unable to breathe on their own or has a tracheostomy tube, you may need to adapt the rescue breaths. Use a bag-valve mask or a pocket mask to provide rescue breaths. If you have not been trained to use one, do not have one to hand, or are simply unwilling to give rescue breaths, give continuous chest compressions instead – hands-only CPR is recommended by the Resuscitation Council UK for any untrained or unwilling rescuer, and it is far better than doing nothing.
- Assistance: If the person requires assistance with breathing or has a caregiver, make sure to involve them in the CPR process. They may need to help position the person or provide rescue breaths.
It is important to remember that every person with a disability is unique, and may require different adaptations to the CPR procedure. If possible, communicate with the person or their caregiver beforehand to determine any specific needs or adaptations that may be necessary.
Step-by-Step Guide to Performing CPR on a Person with a Disability
Performing CPR on a person with a disability is similar to performing CPR on a person without a disability. However, there may be some adjustments you need to make based on the person’s specific needs.
- Check for danger, then check for a response: Make sure it is safe for you to approach. Gently shake the person’s shoulders and ask loudly, “Are you alright?” If they do not respond in any way, treat them as unresponsive. Do not waste time feeling for a pulse — lay rescuers are no longer taught to check one, and a pulse is unreliable to find under pressure.
- Call 999 immediately: Under the Resuscitation Council UK Guidelines 2025, you call 999 (or 112) for any unresponsive person, before you check their breathing. Ask a bystander to make the call and to fetch the nearest defibrillator; if you are on your own, switch your phone to speaker so your hands stay free. The ambulance call handler will stay on the line, help you work out whether the breathing is normal, and talk you through CPR.
- Position the person and open the airway: Get them onto their back on a firm, flat surface — the floor is ideal. If they are in a wheelchair, apply the brakes, undo any straps and lower them to the ground, with help if there is any. Then place one hand on their forehead, tilt the head back gently and lift the chin with two fingertips to open the airway.
- Check for normal breathing: Take no more than 10 seconds to look for chest movement, listen for breath sounds and feel for breath on your cheek. Occasional gasps, or slow, noisy or laboured breathing, are not normal breathing — they are a sign of cardiac arrest. If you are in any doubt, assume it is a cardiac arrest and start CPR; the 999 call handler will help you decide.
- Begin chest compressions: Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the person’s chest, on the lower half of the breastbone, and put your other hand on top, interlocking your fingers. Keep your arms straight and press down 5 to 6 cm at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute, letting the chest come all the way back up between compressions.
- Add rescue breaths only if you are trained and willing: Give 2 rescue breaths after every 30 compressions (a ratio of 30:2). Tilt the head back, lift the chin, pinch the nose shut and breathe steadily into the mouth until the chest starts to rise. If you are untrained, unwilling or unable to give rescue breaths, give continuous chest compressions with no breaks instead — this is hands-only CPR, and it is the option the Resuscitation Council UK recommends for anyone who is not confident with rescue breaths.
- Use a defibrillator as soon as one arrives: Switch the AED on and follow its spoken instructions. Anyone may use one and no training is needed. If a second rescuer is present, keep the compressions going while the pads are being attached.
- Keep going: Continue CPR until the person shows clear signs of waking up — moving, opening their eyes and breathing normally — or until the ambulance crew takes over, or you are too exhausted to continue. If there is someone else with you, swap over every two minutes so that the compressions stay deep and fast.
It is important to remember that every person with a disability is unique, and their needs may vary. If you are unsure of how to perform CPR on a person with a disability, seek guidance from a medical professional or take a CPR training course that includes training on how to perform CPR on a person with a disability.
Overall, performing CPR on a person with a disability requires some adjustments, but the basic steps are the same as performing CPR on a person without a disability.
By following these steps and seeking guidance from medical professionals, you can help save a life in an emergency situation.
Using a Defibrillator (AED) on a Person with a Disability
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is used in exactly the same way on a disabled casualty as on anyone else, and getting one onto the chest quickly matters enormously: bystander CPR combined with early defibrillation increases a cardiac arrest casualty’s chance of survival by two to four times.
- Send for one straight away. As soon as you have called 999, send someone to fetch the nearest AED. The ambulance call handler can tell you where it is, and the British Heart Foundation’s national defibrillator network, The Circuit, is what the ambulance services draw that information from. If you are alone, do not leave the casualty to go looking for one — keep doing compressions.
- Anyone can use it. No training or qualification is needed. The AED talks you through every step, analyses the heart rhythm itself and will only deliver a shock if a shock is needed.
- Attach the pads to a bare, dry chest in the positions shown on the pads themselves — one below the right collarbone, the other on the lower left side of the chest, below the armpit. If there is more than one rescuer, carry on with compressions while the pads go on.
- Implanted pacemakers and defibrillators. Many people with heart conditions have a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator, usually felt as a hard lump under the skin below the collarbone. Do not let it put you off. Place the pad more than 8 cm away from the device, or use an alternative pad position such as front-and-back, and carry on.
- Stand clear while the AED analyses the rhythm and while any shock is delivered, then restart chest compressions immediately — whether a shock was given or not — and keep following the AED’s prompts.
An AED will not shock someone who does not need it, so it is always safe to attach one to an unresponsive person who is not breathing normally.
When to Call Emergency Services
If a person with a disability is unresponsive, it is essential to act quickly and call for emergency help. Under the Resuscitation Council UK Guidelines 2025 you make that call as soon as you establish that they are unresponsive — you no longer wait until you have confirmed that their breathing is abnormal. In the UK, the emergency number to call is 999 or 112.
It is important to remember that every second counts when a person is unresponsive and not breathing. Delaying calling for emergency help can result in further harm or even death.
When calling emergency services, be sure to provide the operator with the person’s location and any relevant information about their condition, such as if they have a disability or any other medical conditions. This information can help emergency responders provide the most effective care possible.
It is also important to stay on the line with the operator and follow their instructions. They may provide guidance on how to perform CPR or other life-saving techniques until emergency responders arrive.
Conclusion
Performing CPR on a person with a disability can be a challenging task, but it is essential to know how to do it correctly. The key to performing CPR is to remain calm, focused, and confident. Remember that every second counts, so act quickly and efficiently.
It is crucial to communicate with the person and their caregivers to understand their medical history, any pre-existing conditions, and any specific needs they may have during the CPR process. Adequate communication skills training is important for healthcare professionals to ensure that CPR decisions are part of a wider discussion about future care.
When performing CPR on a person with a disability, it is essential to adapt the technique to their specific needs — but never at the cost of delay. For example, if the person has a spinal cord injury, turn them onto their back as carefully as you can, keeping the head and body in line, and handle the head and neck gently; you should still open the airway and start compressions without hesitation, because for someone in cardiac arrest an open airway and circulating blood take priority over spinal precautions. Always seek advice from a medical professional if you are unsure about how to proceed.
Remember that CPR is only one part of the emergency response process. It is essential to have a clear understanding of the steps involved in an emergency response and to work together as a team to provide the best possible care to the person in need.
See more on performing adult CPR and child CPR. Skills Training Group delivers CPR training nationwide, please contact us for any of your training needs.
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