How to Do CPR Successfully

Sep 6, 2010 Angelica Giron

Emergency CPR: Anyone Can Do It! - User:Rama

Trained or untrained, anyone can do CPR successfully. Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a life saving procedure, before medical services arrive!

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a serious public health problem that occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating and blood circulation to the brain and other vital organs is compromised. If untreated, death occurs within minutes. Although a heart attack may lead to SCA, they are not synonymous. During a heart attack, delivery of oxygenated blood to the heart muscle fails, but the heart does not suddenly stop beating. Nevertheless, a person who experiences a heart attack is at risk for SCA. When somebody witnesses a person suddenly collapse different reactions may ensue: he may panic and freeze, immediately call for help or instinctively do something to help the person. Public awareness on the need for immediate positive action or first aid to prevent death and increase another persons chances for survival is important. But many people may hesitate to initiate action because of lack of training, fear of doing harm or incurring legal responsibility.

Anyone Can Help: The Good Samaritan Doctrine

This principle of tort law essentially provides that when a person sees another who is in imminent and serious danger the first person cannot be charged with negligence if that first person attempts to aid or rescue the injured party, provided the attempt is not made recklessly. Therefore, as long as there is intent to do good, and no gross negligence is done to harm the other, legal responsibility should not be a problem for anyone who wishes to aid a person seen to experience sudden cardiac arrest. With this out of the way, it is then important to emphasize the importance of doing something, rather than nothing, in this ominous situation.
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It is usually untrained bystanders who are the first witnesses to a sudden cardiac arrest. Family members are often emotional and shocked, not always able to do the first aid treatment. Increasing public awareness of how everyone can dutifully help another in this emergency situation can save more lives. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is an emergency life-saving procedure which consists essentially of chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing. It has long been thought that one needs formal training and certification to perform CPR. Some are afraid they might break the persons ribs or injure other organs. Others are hesitant to apply mouth breathing for fear of their own health and safety. But recent findings have shown that first aid CPR can be successfully performed and easily, even by untrained people before paramedics take over.

AHA CPR Guidelines

The American Heart Association (MayoClinic.com, Jan 15, 2010) advises that:

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Hands-Only CPR Improves Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survival CPR Certification Training Hands-Only CPR

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One must first check if the victim is unconscious by shaking his shoulder and loudly asking, Are you OK? If unconscious, one may proceed with emergency CPR. A lone witness to a SCA must call 911 first, and then initiate hands-only chest compressions. This means using the heel of both hands, on top of the other to compress the center of the chest, between the nipples. The shoulders are placed directly above the victims chest, with the elbows are locked to keep the arms straight. Compressions are done at the recommended rate of 100 repetitions per minute. This must be done continuously, and the aim is to push about 2 inches deep into the chest and lift, then push again, rhythmically. This is done until emergency medical services arrive. This can be performed even by untrained citizens or those who were trained but not sure or confident. If another person is available, one calls 911 while the other immediately starts the chest compressions. In special cases where the victim may have suffocated (as in drowning), one may start CPR for one minute, before calling 911. Trained individuals may do either chest compression only or do 30 chest compressions and alternate with 2 recue breaths by mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose resuscitation. If there are two individuals who can help, one may do the chest compressions and the other, the intermittent rescue breathing.

New studies support the benefits of compression-only CPR compared to compression with ventilation, stating that the former has comparable survival rates as the latter. This was shown in two prospective randomized trials which were published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine (Medscape, 7/28/2010). Continuous hands-only chest compressionsensure the pumping of blood from the heart to the vital organs, especially the brain. Ventilation takes only a secondary need for the meantime, because the body still has remaining oxygen which only needs to be circulated. These findings emphasize the significant role an ordinary citizen can do in helping to save lives, without the anxiety or lack in confidence for insufficient training. Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
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Emergency CPR: Anyone Can Do It! -User:Rama

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