Introduction
Cardiac arrest is a big deal, and it's not something anyone should ever have to experience. But if it happens to you or someone you love, there are steps you can take to make sure things turn out okay. One of the most important is bystander CPR, which can increase your chance of survival by up to 75%! What exactly does that entail? And how does it work? Well, let's dive into the science behind CPR and see what makes this lifesaver so effective:
Bystander CPR is the most important step for patients who suffer cardiac arrest.
- Bystander CPR is the most important step for patients who suffer cardiac arrest.
- CPR can help to keep blood flowing to the brain and heart, which may buy time for defibrillation (electric shock) or other advanced care to be administered.
- Oxygen circulating in your body is essential for survival, so it's important that you continue breathing while performing chest compressions.
- We recommend doing at least 100 compressions per minute on average, though some people may need more or less depending on their age and weight--so if you're unsure about how fast is appropriate for your personal situation, ask someone else for advice!
First, you have to get your rhythm right.
First, you have to get your rhythm right.
- First, check the patient's airway. If they can breathe on their own and don't need help breathing, skip this step and move on to checking for a pulse.
- Check for breathing: Look at their chest and see if it rises and falls with each breath (this is called "respiratory effort"). If there are no signs of respiratory effort--like no chest movement or coughing--and no pulse at all (we'll get into what that means later), then start CPR immediately! You may also be able to tell if someone is unconscious by looking at their eyes; if they're open but not moving around or responding to stimuli like voices or bright lights, then chances are good that he or she needs some resuscitation help ASAP.
- If there is still no pulse after 30 compressions have been completed and two breaths are given: Call 911 immediately!
You also have to remember that oxygen has a limited time period after which it's no longer effective.
When you're learning CPR, you also have to remember that oxygen has a limited time period after which it's no longer effective. When someone has been deprived of oxygen for more than four minutes, and chest compressions performed after this point may not be effective. This is why you need to do chest compressions in between breaths--you can't just keep giving breaths without doing compressions!
The best way to practice your new skills is with an instructor or partner who can help guide your actions and ensure they are done correctly. If possible, try practicing with different people so everyone gets used to performing CPR on different body types (children and adults). Here are some tips for practicing with others:
- Practice giving breaths in between compressions; this way everyone knows where they should be at all times during an emergency situation!
- Switch up the order of giving breaths versus doing chest compressions so no one becomes complacent about their role in saving lives through these lifesaving techniques!
This means that when you're performing CPR, you need to do chest compressions in between breaths.
It is recommended that you perform at least 100 chest compressions per minute, which means you'll have to do 15 compressions per breath.
- 1-2 breaths should be enough for each compression--you don't want to waste time by taking too many breaths or giving them too fast!
- For best results and efficiency, apply about 5 pounds of pressure on the chest (about as much as if your child was standing on top of an inflated balloon). You should feel it in your own body as well; if not, try increasing the amount of force until it feels right. This may take some practice before getting used to how much pressure is needed for effective CPR techniques. The back should also be compressed at least halfway down its length during each compression cycle--this helps prevent any blood from pooling around vital organs like kidneys or intestines after death occurs from trauma caused by an injury sustained during an accident involving a motor vehicle collision (MVC).
100 compressions per minute
It is recommended that the number is 100 compressions per minute, but this isn't an exact science. The important thing is to make sure you're doing it right, and that means counting your compressions.
To do so, place the heel of one hand on top of the other and place them in line with your chest at about nipple level (you can use an actual ruler if you have one handy). Count each time you press down into the patient's chest as one beat; when you reach 100 beats per minute (BPM), start over again at zero.
- Time yourself while performing 30 chest compressions: If it takes more than 30 seconds to perform 30 compressions--which would be two minutes total--then your rate needs to adjust downward so that it takes less than two minutes from beginning CPR until paramedics arrive.
CPR is a lifesaver in many cases of cardiac arrest, but you need to practice to be sure you can perform it successfully.
While CPR is a lifesaver in many cases of cardiac arrest, you need to practice to be sure that you can perform it successfully. Make sure that your technique is correct before trying it on someone else. You should also know when to stop CPR and call 911 instead.
For example, if the victim's heart rate slows down during chest compressions (a common occurrence), don't worry about increasing the number of compressions per minute; just keep up with what feels comfortable while maintaining an even rhythm throughout all phases of resuscitation efforts.
Conclusion
CPR is a lifesaver in many cases of cardiac arrest, but you need to practice to be sure you can perform it successfully. It's important that you know how long you should be doing compressions as well as how many breaths per minute are recommended. If someone near you suffers from cardiac arrest, don't hesitate--get help immediately!