What is CPR?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) saves someone's life who is in cardiac arrest (when their heart can no longer pump blood) by attempting to restart their heart. It's a basic approach that everyone can pick up. CPR relies heavily on chest compressions to maintain blood flow to crucial organs until a regular heartbeat is restored. Breaths of oxygen bring additional oxygen into the cardiac arrest patient.
When should CPR be used?
CPR is required for everyone of any age if they:
- Collapse
- Do not respond
- Are not breathing
- Do not have a pulse
More than half of all persons with cardiac arrest outside of a hospital do not receive immediate help. If you receive CPR immediately after a cardiac arrest, your chances of survival can be doubled or even tripled.
If you're hesitant to do CPR or need help with how to do it correctly, remember that it's always better to attempt than do nothing. The difference between doing something and nothing could mean the difference between someone's life and death.
Untrained: If you need to be trained in CPR or are concerned about administering rescue breaths, perform hands-on CPR only. That requires continuous chest compressions of 100 to 120 compressions per minute until paramedics arrive. You are not required to attempt rescue breathing.
Prepared and trained: Check for a pulse and respiration if you're well-trained and confident in your abilities. Begin chest compressions if there is no pulse or respiration within 10 seconds. Begin CPR with 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths.
Well-trained yet rusty: If you've previously gotten CPR instruction but need more confidence, simply perform 100 to 120 compressions each minute.
The preceding advice is for instances where adults, children, and infants require CPR but not newborns. Newborns are babies who are less than four weeks old.
How to Perform CPR?
- If the person isn't breathing, cross one of your hands and place it in the centre of their chest (just under their nipples).
- Push your hands down hard in the middle of the person's chest, using the force of your body weight. Use your heel or the area of your hand immediately before your wrist. Maintain a straight line with your arms.
- Push down 2 inches on the person's chest 100 to 120 times each minute (this is known as compressions). Allow their chest to rise back up between compressions.
- CPR practitioners can pause compressions to give the patient two mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths for every 30 compressions (approximately 20 seconds).
- Continue administering chest compressions and rescue breathing in a cycle until the individual awakens or more aid comes.
The rescue breath should be performed as follows:
- Pinch the person's nose shut while tilting their head and raising their chin.
- Close your mouth over theirs and blow into it, causing their chest to rise. Check if there is anything in the person's mouth if their chest does not rise.
- Return to compressions after a total of two breaths.
When performing CPR on an infant as a single rescuer, place one hand on the forehead to keep the head slightly back so that adequate rescue breaths can be administered. Compress a third or half the depth of their chest with two fingers of your other hand. The compressions and breaths are the same as in adults.
What occurs following CPR?
When first responders take over the care of the individual getting CPR, they will transport them to the nearest hospital as soon as feasible. whether the person survives, doctors will examine him or her to check whether there is any organ damage from the lack of oxygen. They will also determine the reason for the cardiac arrest and administer any necessary treatment. Many patients who survive cardiac arrest remain in a coma, but over half awaken.
What are the benefits of this method?
CPR avoids organ damage in those who are in cardiac arrest by keeping blood flowing through their bodies.
What are the risks or consequences associated with CPR?
CPR carries hazards because of how intense chest compressions must be to keep blood circulating. During CPR, it is possible to shatter ribs and harm organs in the chest.
