When to STOP resuscitation 

• The patient shows signs of life

• You become too tired to continue

• Help takes over

• A healthcare professional instructs you to stop

• A valid* DNACPR or ReSPECT form is produced 

*Unsure of validity? Continue CPR.

When NOT to resuscitate: (for trained persons only)

• -Decapitation (head wholly or mostly removed)

• -Massive cranial destruction (Brain outside of skull)

• -Incinceration (charring of 95% body area)

• -Submersion longer than 90 minutes

• -Rigor Mortis (cold and stiff in a warm environment)

• -Hypostasis (Blood pooling in lower areas of body)

• -Any stage of decomposition or peutrification

• -Hemicorporectomy (Body cut in two at any level below the shoulders)

• -A valid* DNACPR or ReSPECT form is in place