First aid is given treatment or help to
alleviate a condition and increase chances of survival and healing before
arrival of medical professional services. CPR or cardiovascular resuscitation
is a set of first aid measures to an individual
who experiences emergency situations that consists of cardiac arrest (the heart
suddenly stops breathing) and respiratory arrest (the lungs are not ventilated
anymore). CPR is given immediately since 6 or more minutes of inadequate oxygen
will cause irreversible brain damage and more damage occurs with each passing
minute. The CPR provider should know how to assess the situation and identify
which emergencies require cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The skills and concepts
should be mastered such as the basic ABC (airway breathing and circulation),
delivery of chest compressions, rescue breathing and the use of bag-valve mask.
Sudden cardiac
arrest is known as the leading cause of death in the United States with mortality
of 325,000 people every year. But with proper implementation of CPR along with
high quality chest compressions, this alarming statistic will be decreased and
controlled. Sudden cardiac arrest is totally different from a heart attack.
Sudden cardiac arrest is when the arrhythmias disturb the normal electrical
impulses of the heart which will then result to the cessation of the heart’s
beat.
Cardiopulmonary
resuscitation does a big help in increasing a cardiac arrest victim’s chances
of survival since it keeps the heart pumping, the blood circulating and the
vital organs especially the brain, oxygenated.
These techniques may seem foreign to some bystanders, this may also seem
easy for those acquainted with this but the CPR skills needs training since this
deals with lives in an emergency setting that requires fast thinking and
coordination of movements. Panic is never an option with a CPR provider so it
is best for a CPR provider to be armed and prepared.
The AmericanHeart Association has changed the CPR sequence from ABC (airway, breathing
and circulation) to CAB (Compressions, Airway, and Breathing). . Skipping the
rescue breathing and starting immediately with the chest compressions has been
proven to effectively increase the cardiac arrest victim’s chance for survival.
And that is why the American Heart Association emphasizes the delivery of high
quality chest compressions as
the first priority during a cardiac arrest situation. The cardiac arrest victim
is placed on a safe, smooth and flat surface. Then immediately deliver the 100
chest compressions a minute and it is highly recommended to avoid lags in the
chest compressions. The chest compressions should have a depth of 2 inches for
adults and 1.5 inches for infants. Again, the arms should be straight, avoid
leaning and the strength should come from the shoulders and not the arms. By
mimicking the pumping action of the heart, the blood on the veins (that still
contains oxygen) will be effectively transported to the vital organs of the
body especially the brain. Cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and New York have
taken the change and the new guidelines have drastically changed the mortality
rate due to cardiac arrest. Encouraging the bystanders to do chest compressions
immediately gains more participation than the rescue breathing done by mouth to
mouth resuscitation. After the chest compressions, the airway is the next
priority. CPR Memphis is offering training
on basic life support for first timers.
