One of the most important things for lay rescuers to do after administering CPR to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims is to take care of themselves, both mentally and physically. It’s common for people who have administered CPR to experience feelings of stress or trauma in the aftermath of an incident, and they may develop emotional distress. How you take care of yourself after administering CPR depends on how you’re feeling about it. Take some time to figure out what you want from your doctor and medical team during this stressful time.
Ensuring Victim Safety
The first thing to do after someone is in your care who has experienced cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on cardiac arrest victims is to make sure they are safe.
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Check their vital signs. This means taking their pulse and blood pressure, as well as looking for any other injuries or wounds on the body. If you have any questions about how to do this correctly, ask for help from another person nearby who may know what they’re doing better than you do.
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Call 911 immediately if necessary–and follow instructions from the 911 dispatcher until help arrives! It’s normal not only for the patient but also for bystanders like yourself who were present during an emergency situation such as this one; to take some time off from work or school if possible so that nothing gets left behind while dealing with the emotional trauma caused by being involved in such an event firsthand without warning beforehand (especially when there wasn’t much warning).
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Try not to overthink what happened too much; instead, focus on providing comfort & reassurance where needed while waiting patiently until medical teams arrive at the scene before heading back home again afterward once everything seems settled down enough between everyone involved including themselves personally too since sometimes things can get stressful fast especially when unexpected events occur unexpectedly outta nowhere like this one did here today involving CPR procedures performed under duress due our friend needing urgent medical attention right now which means we all gotta pitch together working hard towards achieving common goals set forth ahead towards achieving success together rather than letting fear paralyze us into inaction due our own self-doubt preventing us
Mental and Physical Well-being
The second thing to do after you have performed CPR is to take care of yourself, both mentally and physically. Performing CPR can lead to emotional distress and trauma, so it’s crucial to recognize and address these emotional risks. You will be tired, and your body has experienced a lot of stress during the incident. You may also have adrenaline running through your veins as well as other emotions like anxiety or guilt about what happened. Some people experience flashbacks of the event, which can make sleeping difficult or even cause nightmares about it. It’s important for first responders who perform CPR on someone in need of medical attention that they take time for themselves so that their mental health isn’t negatively affected by what happened during their shift at work.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder After Administering CPR
It’s common for people who have administered CPR to experience feelings of stress or trauma in the aftermath of an incident. You may experience physical symptoms such as a racing heartbeat and difficulty concentrating, which are common responses to the stress of the event. The shock emotional ups and downs can significantly impact the mental and emotional well-being of lay-responders. It’s important to recognize these feelings and learn how to cope with them so that they don’t interfere with your ability to function normally at work and at home.
Stress can affect every aspect of your life–your physical health, mental health, and relationships with others–and it can make it difficult for you to do everyday things like paying attention at work or school, sleeping well at night, and maintaining healthy eating habits. Stress may also lead you down a path toward unhealthy behaviors such as overeating or drinking alcohol excessively (binge drinking).
To help manage stress after performing CPR:
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Talk about what happened with someone close who understands what it means when someone needs CPR; this could be a friend/significant other/family member/therapist etc… For example: “I’m worried because I heard someone calling out my name when I was giving chest compressions.”
How You Feel After Administering CPR
You may experience a wide range of emotions after administering CPR, including physical symptoms such as agitation, a racing heartbeat, and difficulty concentrating. You may feel intense stress and anxiety, or you might just feel numb. It’s normal to have these feelings, but if they last for more than two weeks, or interfere with your daily life (work or school), then it might be time to seek help from a therapist.
In addition to recognizing when you need mental health care, there are steps you can take on your own:
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Learn relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation that will help reduce stress levels in the moment and over time
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Practice coping skills like deep breathing exercises when feeling anxious or stressed out
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Learn how to take care of yourself physically after administering CPR by eating well-balanced meals; getting enough sleep; exercising regularly; avoiding alcohol and drugs during the recovery period
What Do Want?
If you’ve administered CPR as a lay rescuer and are dealing with stress:
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Take some time to figure out what you want from your doctor and medical team during this stressful time. Seek support and follow-up from healthcare professionals to discuss the incident and address any emotional or social challenges you may be facing as a lay rescuer.
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Figure out what is most important for your own health and well-being right now. Do you need medications? Do you need therapy? How can you best communicate with your doctor about what is going on? What kind of support do they offer in terms of referrals or other resources?
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Find a therapist who is a good fit for your needs by asking friends/family members who have gone through similar experiences how they felt about their therapists (or look at reviews online). Therapy can help with post-traumatic stress symptoms like guilt and failure, so it’s important that this person understands where these feelings come from as well as how to help address them effectively!
Takeaway:
If you’ve administered CPR, the best thing to do is take care of yourself. There is no right or wrong way to feel after witnessing a cardiac arrest. Talk to your doctor and make sure you’re healthy enough to continue on with life as usual. You might feel like doing things that are out of character for you–such as drinking too much alcohol or going out dancing every night–but try not to do anything that would jeopardize your health in any way. If possible, find ways of enjoying yourself and relaxing: exercise, eat healthy meals (preferably without any fast food), hang out with friends and family members who offer emotional support during this difficult time; sleep well at night so that when morning comes around again it will feel like a new day rather than something which has already happened before!
It’s also important not only because there may be long-term effects such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but also because helping someone else might leave us feeling lonely afterward; there could be anger towards ourselves since we weren’t able to save them right away; this anger could lead us into doing things which we wouldn’t normally do normally such as smoking cigarettes/weed etcetera; so if this happens then please try not to fall victim into temptation because it will only hurt both parties involved. Many individuals who receive CPR still do not survive, leading to potential psychological distress for the rescuers.
Conclusion
Administering CPR is a life-changing experience that can leave a significant emotional and psychological impact. Recognizing and addressing these effects is essential for your well-being. By implementing self-care strategies, seeking support from healthcare professionals, and building resilience, you can navigate the challenges and emerge stronger. Remember, your actions made a difference, and taking care of yourself is a crucial part of that process.
