When Should You Use Compression Only CPR?

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification equips individuals with crucial skills to handle emergencies such as cardiac arrest and other life-threatening situations. This training includes knowing how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED) use, and first aid. Whether you’re a healthcare professional or a concerned citizen, BLS certification can empower you to save lives. Hands-only CPR helps maintain blood circulation until paramedics can provide advanced life support.

What is BLS Certification?

BLS certification involves training in various lifesaving techniques, including:

• CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation): This technique helps maintain vital blood flow to the heart and brain during cardiac arrest.

• AED Training: Teaches how to use an automated external defibrillator to restore a normal heart rhythm in victims of sudden cardiac arrest.

• First Aid: Provides essential skills to manage injuries and medical emergencies until professional help arrives.

Taking a CPR class is crucial to effectively learn these life-saving techniques and be prepared to respond to emergencies.

The Importance of BLS Training

BLS training is vital for anyone who may be in a position to help during a medical emergency. It provides:

• Confidence: Knowing how to respond effectively in an emergency situation.

• Preparedness: Skills to manage sudden cardiac arrest, choking, drowning, and other emergencies.

• Life-Saving Techniques: Understanding the proper steps to take can significantly improve the chances of survival and recovery.

Additionally, bystander CPR plays a crucial role in increasing survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims.

What You Will Learn in BLS Certification

1. CPR Techniques

• Adult CPR: Learn how to perform chest compressions and provide rescue breaths for adults in cardiac arrest. It is crucial to keep your arms straight and lock your elbows during chest compressions to ensure they are delivered effectively.

• Infant and Child CPR: Adaptations of CPR techniques for younger victims.

• Hands-Only CPR: For situations where rescue breaths are not feasible or safe.

2. AED Training

• Operation of AEDs: Understand how to turn on the device, attach pads, and deliver shocks.

• Safety Measures: Ensure bystanders are clear before delivering a shock.

• Integration with CPR: Combining AED use with ongoing CPR.

3. First Aid Skills

• Wound Care: How to clean and dress wounds.

• Managing Fractures: Splinting and immobilizing broken bones.

• Handling Burns: Cooling burns and protecting the area.

• Choking: Techniques for dislodging obstructions in the airway.

Detailed CPR Techniques

Adult CPR

1. Check Responsiveness: Tap the victim and shout to see if they respond. If there is no response, proceed to the next steps.

2. Call for Help: Dial emergency services immediately or ask a bystander to do so. Provide the dispatcher with as much information as possible, including the victim's condition and your location.

3. Open the Airway: Tilt the victim's head back and lift the chin to open the airway. This helps to clear any obstruction and facilitate breathing.

4. Check for Breathing: Look, listen, and feel for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds. If the victim is not breathing or is only gasping, begin CPR.

5. Start Chest Compressions: Place your hands in the center of the victim's chest, one on top of the other. Use your body weight to perform compressions at least 2 inches deep and at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute. Allow the chest to fully recoil between compressions.

6. Give Rescue Breaths: After 30 compressions, give 2 rescue breaths. Pinch the victim's nose shut, take a normal breath, cover their mouth with yours, and blow until you see the chest rise. Ensure the breaths are not too forceful to avoid air entering the stomach, which can cause vomiting.

Infant and Child CPR

• Differences in Technique: Adjustments are made to the depth and force of compressions. Use two fingers for infants and one or both hands for children, depending on their size.

• Rescue Breaths: Ensure gentle breaths for infants and children to prevent lung damage.

Compression-Only CPR: When and How to Use It During Cardiac Arrest

Compression-only CPR is a vital component of BLS training, particularly in situations where it may not be safe or practical to provide rescue breaths. Performing hands-only CPR is crucial in emergency situations, as it allows bystanders to provide life-saving assistance quickly and effectively.

Rescue breathing plays a significant role in specific cases, such as for infants, children, and drowning victims, where additional breaths are necessary to improve the chances of survival.

When to Use Compression-Only CPR

1. Unsafe to Give Breaths: If the victim's face is covered in blood, vomit, or other contaminants, providing breaths might not be safe.

2. Uncomfortable Providing Breaths: Bystanders may feel uncomfortable giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a stranger.

3. Health Concerns: With concerns like COVID-19, maintaining social distance while providing aid is essential.

Performing Compression-Only CPR

• Continuous Compressions: Provide continuous chest compressions without counting or stopping until paramedics arrive.

• 1 or 2-Person Technique: When two responders are available, they can take turns performing compressions to avoid fatigue and ensure consistent tempo and depth.

Technique for Compression-Only CPR

1. Hand Placement: Place the heel of one hand on the center of the victim's chest, place the other hand on top, and interlock your fingers.

2. Compression Depth and Rate: Press down hard and fast, at least 2 inches deep, at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.

3. Allow Full Recoil: Ensure the chest fully recoils between compressions to allow the heart to refill with blood.

Detailed Scenarios for Compression-Only CPR

Scenario 1: Traffic Accident with Facial Injuries

• Situation: The victim's face is covered with blood and debris.

• Action: Start compression-only CPR immediately to avoid the risk of infection from bloodborne pathogens. Maintain compressions until emergency services arrive.

Scenario 2: Victim with Vomit

• Situation: The victim has vomit in their mouth, making it unsafe to provide rescue breaths.

• Action: Perform compression-only CPR. Use continuous compressions to keep blood flowing to vital organs. Ensure the airway is clear if possible, but prioritize compressions.

Scenario 3: Reluctance to Perform Mouth-to-Mouth in Bystander CPR

• Situation: A bystander is unwilling to provide rescue breaths to a stranger.

• Action: Encourage them to perform compression-only CPR. Explain the importance of maintaining blood circulation and that compression-only CPR is highly effective.

Scenario 4: COVID-19 Concerns

• Situation: During a pandemic, there are concerns about virus transmission through close contact.

• Action: Use compression-only CPR to reduce the risk of transmission. Ensure personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks and gloves are used if available.

Benefits of Online BLS and CPR Training

Online BLS and CPR courses offer flexibility and convenience, making it easier for individuals to acquire these critical skills. Benefits include:

• Accessibility: Learn at your own pace from the comfort of your home.

• Comprehensive Resources: Access to online study guides, videos, and study groups.

• Certification: Complete the course and pass the exam to receive a certification card immediately, allowing you to quickly validate your skills.

Learning CPR techniques can save someone's life in emergency situations, highlighting the importance of immediate action and preparedness.

Steps to Complete Your Online BLS Certification

1. Enroll in an Accredited Course: Choose a reputable provider like MyCPR NOW that offers comprehensive BLS training. Taking a formal CPR class is crucial to effectively learn these life-saving techniques.

2. Complete the Coursework: Engage with interactive modules, video tutorials, and study guides.

3. Practice Skills: Use mannequins or virtual simulations to practice CPR and AED techniques.

4. Take the Exam: Pass the online exam to demonstrate your knowledge and skills.

5. Receive Certification: Print your certification card immediately upon passing the exam.

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, including CPR and AED training, is essential for anyone who wants to be prepared to handle medical emergencies. Understanding compression-only CPR and when to use it can make a significant difference in emergency situations. Online BLS courses provide a flexible and convenient way to gain these vital skills, ensuring you’re ready to help when it matters most.

Ready to become a certified lifesaver? Start your BLS certification training today with MyCPR NOW and be prepared to make a difference in critical moments.

By learning these essential skills, you can confidently handle emergencies and contribute to saving lives. Invest in your training and be prepared to act when it matters most.