Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is the lifesaving procedure performed during life-threatening emergencies where a person’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. Whether at home, in a job setting, or in public places, it is key to know how to effectively carry out CPR to save the life of someone you care about upon cardiac arrest. The following are some of the key steps needed to carry out effective CPR, and this blog also discusses some tips to make sure you are better prepared to act when such an emergency arises.

Understanding CPR

CPR (full form Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is a series of chest pushes with rescue forcing of breath in order to restore blood and oxygen circulation within the critical organs of the body when the heart beat stops. The main focus is to push on to circulate blood while providing oxygen into the brain until higher level medical help is sought.

Deciding on CPR

CPR should be offered when an individual is encountered who is unresponsive and without a pulse or who is not breathing properly. How one can determine whether CPR is necessary includes:

• Check for Responsiveness: Gently shake the person and shout, “Are you okay?” If no response is present, move to the next step.
• Call for Assistance: If you are alone, make a phone call to access emergency medical services or have another individual make that call for you, calling back to tell you are on speaker so you may continue to initiate CPR.
• Check for Normal Breathing: Look for chest rise and fall with normal breaths. If the individual is not breathing or breathing is abnormal (gastric), begin CPR.

Performing CPR: Step-by-Step

1. Position Patient

Put Patient on a Flat Surface: The patient should be on a flat plain surface on his back. This way chest compression can be applied properly.

2. Begin Chest Compression

Kneel Beside The Patient: Place the heel of one of your hands at the center of the patient’s chest, just below the nipple. Place your other hand over your first hand. Interlock your fingers.

Body Position: Keep your elbows locked and your shoulders directly over your hands, allowing you to use your body weight with compressions.

Compression Depth and Rate: Push hard and fast, compressing about 2 inches (5 cm) deep at a rate of 100-120 compressions/min. Allow complete chest recoil between compressions, but don’t lift hands off the chest.

3. Give Rescue Breaths

Open the Airway: Tilt the head slightly back and lift up the chin up to hold the airway open. Pinch the nose shut and seal your mouth covering the diagnosis’s mouth completely.

Breath Delivery: Administer 2 breaths, each for 1 second, as you watch the chest rising up. Upon delivering the breaths, one is entitled to go back to compressing the chest.

4. Continue CPR

Cycle: Repeat sequences of 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. Continue with this cycle until emergency personnel arrives, the victim starts showing signs of life, or you are too exhausted to continue.

Special Considerations

For Adults

Depth of Compression: Ensure the depth of the chest compressions is appropriate about 2 inches in order to be effective.

Rescue Breaths: If you are unable to do the rescue breaths, you can do chest compressions only (hands-only CPR) and leave the rescue breath to the EMT until higher-level of care can replace you.

For Children (1-8 years of age)

Compression Depth: Compress the chest about 1/3 the depth of the chest, approximately 1.5-2 inches.

Rescue Breaths: Provide two rescue breaths in advance of initiating chest pressure, and proceed with 30 compression and 2 respirations.

For Infants (Under a Year).

Rescue Breaths: Provide 2 gentle breaths with your mouth covering the victim’s mouth as well as the nose. Use a ration of 30 compressions to 2 breaths

Primary Hints

Stay Calm: Remain calm as well as focused on providing quality CPR.

Do not prevent: There should be a keener attention to the least interruption of the chest compressions. This is to ensure that the blood stream from compressions does not lose a moment.

AED: In case there is an availability of an AED then try to use it to apply to the victim. Follow the AED guide on placement and operating circles.

CPR Myths and Facts

Myth 1: “I could inadvertently harm the person using some chest compressions.”

Fact: Although it is true that CPR does sometimes cause injury, including rib fractures and countless other fractures, the risk of causing such complications is massively outweighed by the ability to prevent death.

Myth 2: “I’m not trained in this, so I should not be doing it.”

Fact: Even an untrained bystander can be a big help, providing just hands-only CPR—that is, chest compressions. End.

Myth 3: “CPR is only for cardiac arrests.”

Fact: CPR can be helpful in cases of drowning, choking, or other situations when breathing or heartbeat stops.

Why Learning CPR is Important

Learning CPR is a very important skill, for through it, lives are saved from the jaws of death in case of an emergency. The life-saving skill can be acquired by virtually anyone in society, either as a need for medical practice or just by any other person, as a means of saving the lives of a loved one or a stranger. Many organizations give certification for that and to teach the right techniques and tricks while offering hand-on practice.

It is this, CPR, that is a crucial class for one to learn. With the ability and knowledge of how, when, and what to do to a patient, you will have better chances of response; should be able to see a life saved, enabled during an emergency. Remember, the difference is in your hands, and consider a certification course in CPR.