New guidelines for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have been released, with a focus on making it easier to use by people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The updated guidelines include two important changes:
First, compression-only CPR is now recommended for patients whose airway is obstructed by vomit or other matter, or for those who have severe respiratory distress but no heartbeat. This technique involves pushing hard and fast on the breastbone without doing any mouth-to-mouth breaths.
Second, an easy-to-remember mnemonic "HAD" (Head tilted back, Airway open, Drive [chest compression]) is now recommended when using this technique. These changes should make CPR easier to perform in a variety of environments where access to mouthpieces may be limited, such as airplanes and wilderness settings.
The latest guidelines for CPR are aimed at helping more people survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
In a nutshell: CPR is a lifesaving skill that can be performed by trained laypeople on adults and children. It keeps oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and heart, which is important because these organs are responsible for all of your body's vital functions.
CPR also helps prevent further damage to the heart during an arrhythmia (also known as an irregular heartbeat). Arrhythmias are common complications of cardiac arrest and can lead to sudden death if they aren't treated quickly. The latest guidelines for CPR are aimed at helping more people survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the leading cause of death in America today, making it essential that everyone knows how to perform this lifesaving technique correctly!
In addition to incorporating chest compressions, the new guidelines include two important changes for helping patients who are deaf or hard of hearing.
In addition to incorporating chest compressions, the new guidelines include two important changes for helping patients who are deaf or hard of hearing:
- The compression-only sequence has been changed from "ABC" (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) to "HAD" (Head tilted back, Airway open, Drive [chest compression]). This change makes it easier for rescuers who may not be familiar with the standard CPR algorithm.
- Hands-only CPR is now recommended as an alternative approach when performing CPR on a person who is unconscious but breathing normally. Hands-only CPR involves only pushing down on the center of the chest at a rate of 100 compressions per minute until help arrives or medical professionals take over care of the victim.
The first change is the use of a compression-only sequence, which involves pushing hard and fast on the breastbone, but not doing any mouth-to-mouth breaths.
The first change is the use of a compression-only sequence, which involves pushing hard and fast on the breastbone, but not doing any mouth-to-mouth breaths. The reasoning here is that you don't need to worry about breathing while performing compressions because it's more important to get as much blood flowing through your patient's body as possible.
Push hard and fast on their chest for about 2 minutes before checking for signs of life again. If there are no signs after two minutes, begin CPR again until help arrives or you can no longer continue safely--in which case call 911 immediately!
The second change is the use of an easy-to-remember mnemonic when using the compression-only sequence -- "HAD" (Head tilted back, Airway open, Drive [chest compression]).
The second change is the use of an easy-to-remember mnemonic when using the compression-only sequence -- "HAD" (Head tilted back, Airway open, Drive [chest compression]). This helps you remember the order of steps in CPR:
- Head tilted back - tilt the head back so that air can flow into your friend's mouth and down into his lungs.
- Airway open -- keep it open by lifting up on his chin or gently holding his tongue out of the way with two fingers placed on either side of her nose. If she isn't breathing at all, pinch her nostrils shut before attempting rescue breaths; otherwise, just leave them alone while performing compressions.
- Drive (chest compressions) -- push hard enough so that you feel resistance when pushing down on her chest (at least one inch deep).
These changes should make CPR easier to perform in a variety of environments, including airplanes and wilderness settings where access to mouthpieces may be limited.
You might be surprised to learn that you can actually save someone's life even if you don't know how to perform CPR well. According to the latest guidelines, performing chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute is sufficient for adults who are not breathing or are unable to breathe. If this is all that is required, then it doesn't matter how many compressions you perform (as long as they're done at least 100 times per minute).
The new guidelines also recommend that rescuers use two hands instead of one when performing chest compressions on infants and children under age eight years old; this will help ensure adequate blood flow through their smaller hearts and lungs while they wait for medical help or transport them out of harm's way.
CPR can be lifesaving even if you don't know how to do it well until after you have started
While it may seem like an unlikely scenario, there are times when you may need to perform CPR on someone who is not breathing or has no pulse. If you don't know how to do it well, don't worry--you can still save their life!
- The first step in performing CPR is assessing the situation and determining whether or not the person needs help. Check for signs of cardiac arrest, such as no breathing or coughing and blue lips/fingernails (this could indicate hypoxia). If there are signs of cardiac arrest, immediately begin chest compressions by placing two fingers just below their nipple line (or one hand if they're larger than you). Compress their chest at least 2 inches (5cm) deep for 30 seconds without interruptions; then give two breaths into their mouth with about 1 second between each one until there are no more breaths left in your lungs. Repeat this process until help arrives.
Conclusion
CPR is a lifesaving skill that everyone should know how to perform. The latest guidelines make it easier for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to help save lives by incorporating two important changes: an easy-to-remember mnemonic and compression-only sequences. These updates will empower individuals with limited access to mouthpieces, such as those on airplanes or in wilderness settings, to perform CPR correctly and safely until help arrives.