CPR for the Elderly: Essential Knowledge
There are many important things to know about CPR for the elderly. It's not just a simple matter of knowing how to do chest compressions properly. You also need to know when and why to call 911, what kinds of medications might be appropriate in certain situations, and what kinds of tests and procedures may be needed if cardiac arrest does occur. This guide will help you learn these things and more!
The most important thing to remember is that if an elderly person stops breathing, you need to start CPR at once.
- If someone has stopped breathing and does not have a pulse, start chest compressions immediately--even before calling 911 or starting rescue breathing (if needed). This will allow blood to flow through the heart and brain until paramedics arrive on the scene with more advanced equipment than what you may have available in your home or office. Call 911 immediately after beginning chest compressions; they will tell you exactly when it's safe for them to come into contact with the patient so they can begin administering other treatments as needed (elevating legs above the heart level).
You should call 911 for help as soon as possible.
If you see an elderly person who needs help, call 911 as soon as possible. Don't wait around for a dispatcher to ask you questions or give instructions; just dial the number and speak directly with the operator. Don't hang up until the operator tells you it's okay to do so.
If there's an emergency situation and someone isn't breathing normally (i.e., coughing), don't worry about being embarrassed--the emergency medical technicians (EMTs) will be happy that someone called them! If this happens, don't hesitate: immediately call 911 and let them know what happened so they can send help right away.
If you suspect the patient has a heart attack, call 911 immediately and follow the dispatcher's directions from there.
Do not give aspirin or other medications, unless specifically instructed to do so by a medical professional over the phone. Do not move the patient unless they are in danger of further injury. Do not attempt CPR if you are unsure of what to do--it's better for everyone involved if you wait for professionals trained in handling these situations!
If you find yourself in an emergency situation where someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally (i.e., no breaths), roll them onto their back with knees bent and head tilted back slightly so that air can flow into lungs more easily; then begin chest compressions (5 cm depth) at 100 beats per minute while counting aloud until help arrives or they start breathing again on their own
It is essential to stay calm and focused throughout the process of helping an elderly person who has stopped breathing or having a cardiac arrest.
It's OK if you feel scared or overwhelmed, but it's best not to let those feelings get in the way of your ability to save a life. There is always time to be afraid later after the patient has been revived and is stable again. Staying calm means keeping your wits about you so that you can take appropriate action when necessary and perform CPR correctly without hesitation. If at any point during these procedures, there is doubt about what should be done next, ask for help immediately!
If someone else is present with you while performing CPR on an elderly person (or even just watching), don't hesitate to ask them questions if something isn't clear--it could mean all difference between success and failure!
To increase the likelihood of successful resuscitation, perform CPR until emergency medical personnel arrive on scene and take over care of the patient
Ideally with AED (automated external defibrillator) equipment that shocks their heart back into normal rhythm if they've gone into ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (ventricular tachycardia).- Call 911 immediately, if available.
- Stay calm and focused on doing CPR until paramedics arrive on the scene and take over care of your loved one -- ideally with AED (automated external defibrillator) equipment that shocks their heart back into normal rhythm if they've gone into ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (ventricular tachycardia).
- If there is no AED available, continue CPR until paramedics arrive by giving 30 chest followed by two rescue breaths every minute until help arrives. It's important for you not to forget about breathing for your loved one! If he or she is obese or overweight, adjust your chest compressions accordingly so that they don't become ineffective due to excessive weight distribution on top of them during compression cycles -- this could lead to serious injuries such as broken ribs or collapsed lungs in addition to reducing the effectiveness of CPR techniques that rely specifically upon compressing both sides equally at once (eccentric hypertrophy). Coughing up blood can also indicate serious internal bleeding; if this happens after performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation techniques like those mentioned above then it may require immediate medical attention before further damage occurs inside the body cavity which could prove fatal later down the line when left untreated long enough without proper intervention from doctors trained specifically within these fields themselves
Conclusion
If you are ever in a situation where an elderly person stops breathing or has a cardiac arrest, it's important to stay calm and focused. There is always time to be afraid later after the patient has been revived and is stable again. You should call 911 immediately and follow the dispatcher's directions from there. If you suspect the patient has a heart attack, call 911 immediately and follow the dispatcher's directions from there