What is CPR?

Have you heard of the abbreviation CPR being used in several of those medical dramas on TV? Ever wondered what those handsome medicos keep saying? If your answer is yes, then look no further. This article tells you all about the three magic letters – CPR – Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. CPR is a lifesaving technique that is extremely useful in many emergencies, including heart attack or near drowning, in which someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped.

What is CPR exactly?

CPR is pushing down on a person’s chest and breathing into his or her mouth. It is used in emergencies when someone’s heart stops beating, or when he or she is not breathing normally (may be gasping for breath) or is not breathing at all.

CPR works to move blood to the person’s brain to help prevent brain damage. CPR can help keep someone alive until a health professional arrives.

The steps of CPR are C-A-B:

• C for compression
• A for airway
• B for breathing

CPR can keep oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs until more definitive medical treatment can restore a normal heart rhythm.

When the heart stops, the lack of oxygenated blood can cause brain damage in only a few minutes. A person may die within eight to 10 minutes.

To learn CPR properly, it is better to take an accredited first-aid training course, including CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). However, this is only the immediate first aid – the professionals have to be called in and they will take over once they arrive at the scene.

The below is some advice from the American Heart Association for people who may/may not be trained in CPR:

• Untrained –If you are not trained in CPR, then provide hands-only CPR. That means uninterrupted chest compressions of about 100 a minute until paramedics arrive. You don’t need to try rescue breathing.
• Trained and ready to go –If you are well-trained and confident in your ability, begin with chest compressions instead of first checking the airway and doing rescue breathing. Start CPR with 30 chest compressions before checking the airway and giving rescue breaths.
• Trained but rusty –If you have previously received CPR training but you’re not confident in your abilities, then just do chest compressions at a rate of about 100 a minute. This advice applies to adults, children and infants needing CPR, but not new-borns.

Step 1. Check to see if the person is conscious.

Tap or gently shake the person and shout, “Are you okay?“ But do not shake someone who might have a neck or back injury. That could make the injury worse.

If the person does not respond, follow these steps.

Adults and older children who have reached puberty:

For an adult or an older child who has reached puberty (body hair or breast development):

• Callemergency services.
• Get an AED (automated external defibrillator) if there is one nearby.
• Start CPR.

Babies and young children until the age of puberty:

For a baby or young child who has not reached puberty:

• Start CPR.
• Do CPR with rescue breaths for 2 minutes.
• Callemergency services.
• Get an AED if there is one nearby.

Step 2: Start chest compressions.

For an adult or an older child who has reached puberty

• Kneel next to the person.
• Use your fingers to locate the end of the breastbone, where the ribs come together.
• Place two fingers at the tip of the breastbone.
• Place the heel of the other hand just above your fingers (on the side closest to the person’s face).
• Use both hands to give compressions. Stack your other hand on top of the one that you just put in position. Lace the fingers of both hands together, and raise your fingers so they do not touch the chest.

Positioning your arms and body for doing chest compressions:

• Straighten your arms, lock your elbows, and center your shoulders directly over your hands.
• Press down in a steady rhythm, using your body weight. The force from each thrust should go straight down onto the breastbone, pressing it down at least 2 in. (5 cm). Be sure to let the chest re-expand at the end of each compression.
• If you are not trained in CPR, give at least 100 chest compressions a minute. Push hard and push “fast.”(Fast means to push between 1 and 2 times a second.)
• If you are trained in CPR, see Step 3: Start rescue breaths.
• Keep giving at least 100 chest compressions a minute until help arrives or the person is breathing normally.

For a child 1 year of age to puberty

• Kneel next to the child.
• Use your fingers to locate the end of the child’s breastbone, where the ribs come together.
• Place two fingers at the tip of the breastbone.
• Place the heel of the other hand just above your fingers (on the side closest to the child’s face).
• Use the heel of one hand to give compressions. If you need more force for a larger child, use both hands as you would for an adult.

Positioning your arms and body for doing chest compressions

• Straighten your arm, lock your elbow, and center your shoulders directly over your hand.
• Press down in a steady rhythm, using your body weight. The force from each thrust should go straight down onto the breastbone, pressing down at least one-third of the depth of the child’s chest [about 2 in. (5 cm)]. Be sure to let the chest re-expand at the end of each compression.
• Give at least 100 chest compressions a minute. Push hard and push “fast.” (Fast means to push between 1 and 2 times a second.)
• Rescue breathing is more important to do for children and babies than adults. Give 30 compressions to 2 breaths. See step 3: Rescue breaths.
• Repeat the cycle of 30 compressions and 2 rescue breaths until help arrives or the child is breathing normally.

For a baby younger than 1 year

• Kneel or stand next to the baby after putting him or her on a flat surface.
• Picture a line connecting the nipples, and place two fingers on the baby’s breastbone just below that line.
• Use just your two fingers to press the chest down at least one-third of the depth of the baby’s chest [about 1.5 in. (4 cm)]. Be sure to let the chest re-expand at the end of each compression.
• Give at least 100 chest compressions a minute. Push hard and push “fast.” (Fast means to push between 1 and 2 times a second.)
• Rescue breathing is more important to do for children and babies than adults. Give 30 compressions to 2 breaths. See step 3: Rescue breaths.
• Repeat the cycle of 30 compressions and 2 rescue breaths until help arrives or the baby is breathing normally.

Step 3: Rescue breaths

Note: If you are not trained in CPR, it’s okay to only give chest compressions. Studies have shown that CPR can work well with chest compressions alone.

Rescue breathing is more important to do for children and babies than adults.

If you are trained in CPR:

• Give 30 compressions, then 2 rescue breaths.
• Repeat the cycle of 30 compressions and 2 rescue breaths until help arrives or the person is breathing normally.

To give rescue breaths:

• Put one hand on the person’s forehead.
• Pinch the person’s nostrils shut with your thumb and finger.
• Put the fingers of your other hand under the bony part of the lower jaw near the chin. Tilt the chin upward to keep the airway open. Do not tilt the head if you think there is a neck injury.
• Take a normal breath (not a deep one), and place your mouth over the person’s mouth, making a tight seal. For a baby, place your mouth over the baby’s mouth and nose. Blow into the person’s mouth for 1 second, and watch to see if the person’s chest rises.
• If the chest does not rise, tilt the person’s head again, and give another breath.
• Between rescue breaths, remove your mouth from the person’s mouth and take a normal breath. Let his or her chest fall, and feel the air escape.

Source:

WebMD

Tags

• Cardio pulmonary resustication
• CPR
• heart
• revival