CPR involves a set of simple yet critical steps that, if performed correctly, can help keep the patient alive until medical professionals arrive. Regardless of your medical background, learning these life-saving techniques and understanding the importance of responding properly in an emergency is highly recommended.
A high 65% of people in the US claim they got CPR certification, but only 18% of those are recertified and up to date. Performing CPR can be overwhelming and intimidating for many people, which is why they avoid taking action during emergencies.
This article aims to demystify CPR and provide you with a comprehensive understanding of CPR basics. Learn to perform the CPR steps effectively and explore the importance of CPR training and certification.
What is CPR?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a crucial first-aid technique that can save lives when individuals experience cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. CPR involves a combination of chest compressions, rescue breathing, and defibrillation (when necessary) aimed at restoring the patient’s breathing and heartbeat. This emergency medical procedure restores blood circulation and maintains oxygen supply to the brain and heart until healthcare professionals arrive.
During cardiac arrest, the heart ceases to function effectively, leading to a lack of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. Without immediate intervention, irreversible damage and death can occur within minutes. CPR aims to buy time and provide temporary assistance to the individual until advanced medical care can be administered.
CPR attempts to mimic the heart’s pumping action and the lungs’ oxygenation process by performing chest compressions and rescue breaths. These actions help to circulate oxygenated blood, providing a lifeline to the individual in cardiac arrest.
CPR is a crucial component of the Chain of Survival, a sequence of actions designed to maximize the chances of survival during cardiac emergencies. The Chain of Survival involves:
- Recognition of the emergency
- Activation of emergency medical services
- Early CPR
- Early defibrillation
- Early advanced care
Recognizing Cardiac Arrest
Recognizing cardiac arrest is essential in ensuring prompt medical attention and administering proper first aid.
Signs and Symptoms of Cardiac Arrest
Here are some key signs to help you recognize cardiac arrest:
- Sudden loss of consciousness: A person experiencing cardiac arrest would suddenly and unexpectedly collapse and become unresponsive.
- Absence of normal breathing: In a cardiac arrest situation, normal breathing is absent or irregular.
- No pulse or signs of circulation: Check for a pulse on the carotid artery in the neck or the brachial artery in the wrist. It may indicate cardiac arrest if you don’t detect the pulse within a few seconds.
- Gasping or abnormal breathing: Sometimes, people experiencing cardiac arrest may exhibit gasping, abnormal breathing patterns, or agonal breaths. These are not normal and indicate a serious medical emergency.
If you witness any of the above symptoms, call for medical help immediately. While waiting for help, initiate CPR if you are trained, as this may help keep the patient alive until paramedics arrive.
Differentiating Cardiac Arrest From Other Medical Emergencies
Differentiating cardiac arrest from other medical emergencies can be challenging, as some symptoms may overlap. People often mistake a heart attack for a cardiac arrest. However, they are different conditions with different treatments.
During a heart attack, victims may experience pain in the chest spreading to the arms, jaw, and back. Other symptoms include nausea, sudden sweating, anxiety, bluish feet, hands, and lips. People may also experience symptoms similar to cardiac arrest as fainting, shortness of breath, abnormal heart rhythms, and loss of consciousness. However, the heart stops beating during cardiac arrest and must be restarted. Heart attacks refer to circulation complications, whereas cardiac arrests point to electrical complications caused as a result of the heart’s rhythm disruption.
Common Myths and Misconceptions about CPR
Several myths and misconceptions surround CPR, so it is important to debunk them to ensure accurate information is disseminated.
Read to learn more about the common CPR myths.
Myth 1: CPR Can Restart the Heart
Reality: CPR does not restart the heart.
Its primary purpose is maintaining blood circulation and oxygen supply. The chest compressions performed during CPR help to manually pump blood, but it does not restore the heart’s normal rhythm. Defibrillation is often needed to restore the heart’s natural electrical activity.
Myth 2: Only Medical Professionals Can Perform CPR
Reality: Anyone can perform CPR, regardless of their medical training.
Bystanders who witness a cardiac arrest are encouraged to initiate CPR immediately. Hands-only CPR, which focuses solely on chest compressions without rescue breathing, is a simplified technique that even untrained individuals can perform effectively. Recently, the CPR guidelines have been revised to recommend compression-only CPR, without o mouth-to-mouth breathing.
Myth 3: A Person Must be Certified to Perform CPR
Reality: It is not illegal to perform CPR even without training.
While CPR certification is valuable and recommended for individuals in specific professions (e.g., school staff, lifeguards), anyone can and should initiate CPR during an emergency. Timely CPR is crucial, and waiting for a certified individual to arrive may delay life-saving measures.
CPR training courses from the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association are widely available and provide valuable knowledge and skills for effective CPR. Still, certification is not a requirement for performing CPR.
Myth 4: CPR Can Harm the Person in Cardiac Arrest
Reality: Though there may be some risks involved in CPR procedures, these are far outweighed by the potential benefits of saving a life.
It is important to follow the recommended techniques and guidelines, such as proper hand placement and compression depth, to ensure the safety and effectiveness of CPR.
Myth 5: CPR Always Saves Lives
Reality: CPR is not always successful.
While CPR is an essential intervention, its success depends on several factors. These include the underlying cause of cardiac arrest, the victim’s age, overall health, response time, and the effectiveness of the administration of CPR. CPR’s goal is to increase survival chances, but cannot guarantee a positive outcome in every case. However, prompt CPR can double or triple the survival chance.
Step-by-Step CPR Techniques
Performing proper cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) requires a specific sequence of steps. Here is a step-by-step guide to performing CPR:
- Assess the situation: Make sure the area is safe for both you and the person needing CPR. Check for any potential dangers that could harm either of you.
- Check responsiveness: If there’s no response, you can assume the victim is unresponsive and requires immediate CPR.
- Call for help: Call emergency medical services or tell someone to do so. If there is noone around, call for medical help before starting CPR.
- Position the victim properly: Place the victim on a hard, flat surface. Lay them on their back and ensure that their airway is clear.
- Begin chest compressions: Use the heel of one hand and place it at the center of their chest, below the nipple line, with interlock the fingers of the other hand on top. Position yourself directly above the person’s chest, and with your arms straight, push hard and fast. Compress the chest at least 2 inches deep, using a rate of 100-120 compressions a minute.
- Give rescue breaths: Upon providing 30 compressions, give 2 rescue breaths. Pinch the person’s nose shut, sealing their mouth with yours. Deliver a breath that makes the person’s chest rise visibly. Each breath should last about one second. If you’re unable to give rescue breaths, continue with chest compressions only.
- Continue cycles of compressions and breaths: Repeat the cycle until the person shows signs of life or emergency medical services arrive to take over. If there is an AED available, follow its instructions for use.
CPR Training and Certification
CPR training instills confidence and preparedness in individuals, enabling them to respond calmly and effectively during emergencies. By undergoing hands-on training, participants gain practical experience, practice essential skills, and receive feedback from instructors.
This hands-on approach builds confidence and helps individuals overcome any fears or hesitation they may have when performing CPR. However, if your schedule doesn’t allow you to participate in CPR training in a classroom, there are also online classes available that will give you the skills needed to respond in an emergency.
Wrapping Up
Understanding the CPR basics is an essential skill that can save lives. By debunking these common myths and misconceptions surrounding cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), we can increase the number of people who are confident in administering the procedure and are willing to take action as an emergency response.
With the knowledge gained from this article, you can now approach CPR confidently, knowing how to respond effectively in critical moments and potentially make a significant difference in someone’s survival. By spreading awareness and promoting CPR training, we can empower individuals to become life-saving heroes.