It is so tempting to think that someone else will be able to help if someone has a heart attack also known as a sudden cardiac arrest. But in today’s world, heart disease is very common and heart attacks occur all too often.
It may help to understand what is happening within the human body when a heart attack occurs. A simple explanation is that a person’s heart cannot pump blood around their body. This mean no oxygen is reaching the victim’s brain and vital organs. Without prompt, correct treatment the victim can die within minutes.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation also known as CPR is a truly, easy to learn, life- saving treatment. In a classroom setting or if you choose to learn CPR online, you will learn about chest compressions, rescue breaths, compression ratio for adults and infant CPR. More and more schools, churches and restaurants are requiring staff to learn CPR and the use of an AED, Automated External Defibrillator. An AED comes with easy to follow directions but completing a CPR/AED training course will give you the confidence to move forward and do what must be done to save a life.
Let’s go through the steps you will learn and what to do if someone around you could be suffering from a heart attack.
First, ensure the area around you is safe and free from danger. Then call for help! If you are in an area with other people around, instruct someone to call 911, if you are alone, call before beginning treatment.
After you have ensured that emergency help is on the way, it’s time to begin CPR. As you would have already learned, this will help the heart pump blood to the brain and other vital organs. Place the heel or your hand in the center of the person’s chest and place your other hand directly on top, lacing your fingers. Straighten your arms and begin to press down approximately 2 inches. Keep a steady rate of 100-120 compressions per minute for 30 compressions.
After the 30 chest compressions have been made, it’s time for rescue breaths. Tilt the victim’s head back and lift the chin. Pinch their nose, cover their mouth with your own and blow firmly. Give two rescue breaths before resuming chest compressions. The rescue breaths ensure that their blood is getting oxygen when it’s pumping through their body.
Continue this cycle of two rescue breaths for every 30 compressions until emergency help arrives or someone else steps forward to help.
Now is the time to decide if you will be the one ready to move forward and act in the case of this type of emergency! Test today by clicking the arrow below.
