CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It’s when someone gives chest compressions to a person in cardiac arrest to keep them alive. When a person is in cardiac arrest their heart stops pumping blood, which means their brain gets no oxygen. Without CPR the person will die in minutes
CPR involves manual chest compressions and, in some cases, rescue (“mouth-to-mouth”) breathing. If available, a device called an automated external defibrillator (AED) may be used to restart the heart.
CPR Saves Lives.
Currently, about 9 in 10 people who have cardiac arrest outside the hospital die.2 But CPR can help improve those odds. If it is performed in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.
Why is it important to know CPR and how to do it?
Cardiac Arrests Often Happen at Home!
About 350,000 cardiac arrests happen outside of hospitals each year—and about 7 in 10 of those happen at home. Unfortunately, about half of the people who experience cardiac arrests at home don’t get the help they need from bystanders before an ambulance arrives.
The good news is that that when someone has a sudden cardiac arrest and a bystander initiates CPR quickly, about 45% of them can survive.
How can I tell whether someone is in cardiac arrest?
- The person is unresponsive, even if you shake or shout at them.
- The person isn’t breathing or is only gasping.
You Don’t Need Formal Training to Perform CPR.
You don’t need a special certification or formal training to perform CPR, but you do need education. If cardiac arrest happens to someone near you, don’t be afraid—just be prepared! Follow these steps if you see someone in cardiac arrest.
CPR – A lifesaving technique within your reach!!
Here are the basic steps to follow (after you have called the medical emergency service) –
- Place the person on the floor.
- Kneel beside the person.
- Place the heel of one hand on the center of the person’s chest. Place the heel of the other hand on top of the first hand and lace your fingers together.
- Position your body so that your shoulders are directly over your hands. Keeping your arms straight, push down with your arms and hands, using your body weight to compress the person’s chest.
- Push hard enough to press the chest down at least two inches.
- Continue pressing the chest at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
- Continue hands-only CPR until emergency medical service personnel arrive. If possible, enlist another person to take over for you after a few minutes, because doing the compressions can be tiring.
SO, TAKE FOR TODAY: LEARN CPR AND SAVE LIFES….!!