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CPR Can Save Your LifeBy Ronald Porep, SafetyIssues.com |
Volume 2 Issue 14January 2003 |
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You walk into your home after having finished shoveling the 12 inches of snow last night’s storm deposited on your drive. Suddenly, you have trouble breathing. You feel a sharp pain in your chest. You feel yourself falling to the ground as you call out for help. You are having a heart attack. But will your family know what to do to help you? CPR and The Facts Every member of your family who can learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) should learn it – repeating classes as needed to keep both in practice in use of the method and up with the latest skills. Why? For starters, your family will most likely be your first line of rescue after you suffer a heart attack. Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death of adults with 75 % of all cardiac arrests (heart stoppages) happening in a victim’s own home. While emergency service personnel should be called immediately when someone suffers a heart attack, the faster a heart attack victim gets help (such as CPR), the more chance he has of surviving a heart attack. In sudden cardiac arrest the heart goes from a normal heartbeat to a quivering rhythm called ventricular fibrillation (VF). This happens in approximately 2/ 3 rds of all cardiac arrests. VF is fatal unless an electric shock, called defibrillation, can be given. CPR does not stop VF but CPR extends the window of time in which defibrillation can be effective. |
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CPR provides a trickle of oxygenated blood to the brain and heart and
keeps these organs alive until defibrillation can shock the heart into a
normal rhythm. If CPR is started within 4 minutes of collapse and defibrillation provided within 10 minutes a person has a 40 % chance of survival.CPR saves lives but it has to be administered quickly – far quicker than the average 3 to 5 minute response time of paramedics to an emergency. Call Emergency Personnel The first thing your family should do is call 911 . The faster you can get highly trained emergency medical assistance – such as paramedics – the better change you have of surviving a heart attack. But your family should not wait for emergency assistance. A family member trained in CPR should take action while another family member calls for help. Here is what they should do. Does The Victim Need CPR Determine if the victim actually needs CPR. During cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood, the blood pressure falls to zero and the pulse disappears. Within 10 seconds of cardiac arrest the person loses consciousness and becomes unresponsive. If you shake or shout at the victim, there will be no response. Sometimes a person in cardiac arrest may make grunting, gasping or snoring type breathing sounds for a couple of minutes. Do not be confused by this abnormal type of breathing. Do NOT check for a pulse! If a person is unresponsive (doesn't respond to shouts or shakes) and is not breathing (or breathing abnormally) then begin CPR. Administering CPR To Adults Tilt the head back and listen for breathing. Remember a person in cardiac arrest may have abnormal breathing for a couple of minutes. This abnormal breathing is called "agonal respiration" and is the result of the brain's breathing center sending out signals even though circulation has ceased. The key point is that the abnormal breathing may sound like grunting, gasping or snoring. It disappears in 2 - 3 minutes. If you see this type of breathing DO NOT delay CPR. The person desperately needs air and only you can provide it. If not breathing normally, pinch nose and cover the mouth with yours and blow until you see the chest rise. Give 2 breaths. Each breath should take 2 seconds. If the victim is still not breathing normally, coughing or moving, begin chest compressions. Push down on the chest 11 / 2 to 2 inches 15 times right between the nipples. In general the chest should be pushed down 11 / 2 - 2 inches. Sometimes you may hear a cracking sound. Do not be alarmed. The sound is caused by cartilage or ribs cracking. Even if this occurs the damage is not serious. The risk of delaying CPR or not doing CPR is far greater than the risk of a broken rib. Pump at the rate of 100 /minute, faster than once per second. Continue until help arrives. Complications Vomiting is the most frequently encountered complication of CPR. If the victim starts to vomit, turn the head to the side and try to sweep out or wipe off the vomit. Continue with CPR. The spread of infection from the victim to the rescuer is exceedingly rare. Most cardiac arrests occur in people's homes - relatives or friends will be the ones needing to do CPR. Even CPR performed on strangers has an exceedingly rare risk of infection. There is NO documentation of HIV or AIDS ever being transmitted via CPR. CPR Saves Lives According to the statistics, CPR doubles a person's chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest. Your family members knowing CPR can save your life or the lives of those you love. |
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