Factors Should Be Considered to Ensure Perfect CPR

 

The following factors should be considered to ensure perfect CPR:

Compression Rate

The clear priority during CPR is establishing effective compressions for the patient. If the rescuer cannot coordinate the patient’s breathing, like finding it too time-consuming or unpleasant, the patient may die. An effective chest compression alone has a lot of benefits. Compression rate, which measures how fast CPR is performed, should be between 100 and 120 compressions in one minute. The person administering CPR should ensure that chest compressions are not too slow. If the compressions are too slow, the blood is not being circulated efficiently around the body. On the other hand, if compressions are very fast, the heart is not given enough time to be filled with blood. This means that the cardiac output will definitely fall off. Thus for effective CPR procedure, compression rate should be performed carefully professionally.

Compression Depth

Compression depth is another factor that should be considered very crucial for effective compressions during CPR. It measures how deep the center of the chest — sternum- is pushed down when CPR is being performed. For most adults, the preferred depth compression is two inches. The chest should be allowed to fully recoil after every compression. This is equally important as it will enable the heart to be filled with blood which consequently helps to improve cardiac output.

Compression Fraction

Compression fraction simply means the amount of time taken during a cardiac arrest while performing a CPR procedure. It also means that for cardiac output to build up again, it will take time. It is therefore, reasonable to minimize interruptions during CPR so that high-quality resuscitation is gained. Suppose the bystander administering CPR gets tired and wants to exchange with another person to continue administering CPR. In that case, the exchange should not exceed 10 seconds. The compressions should continue as the other rescuers place an AED if it is available.

Ventilatory Rate

For patients that require ventilation, ventilation rate is the rate at which ventilations are delivered mostly through a bag-valve mask. Ventilation rate should be regulated as hyperventilating or over ventilating can greatly affect the outcome of effective CPR. For instance, increased pressure in the chest cavity may be caused by too much ventilation.

Source

AHA Updated CPR Guidelines During COVID-19 Pandemic

The below datagram shows the updated CPR Guidelines from AHA for the healthcare workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

 

Source: The post originally published here.

Steps to Perform Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a Victim

The below graphical representation shows the basic steps to perform CPR on victims.

Why Learning Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) So Vital Today?

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, or CPR, is a technique used to help a person whose heart has stopped pumping oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the rest of the body. By learning how to perform these easy, life-saving techniques, you can help a person who has stopped breathing.

Sometimes a person stops breathing because they have heart attack or stroke and their heart stops beating or a person’s heart rhythm changes and is not beating properly. A person may choke while eating dinner, or even receive an electrical shock. All of these are possibilities that could lead to death.

By learning the correct way to provide chest compressions, you can keep oxygen-rich blood circulating. And, by learning the proper way to provide “rescue breaths,” you can breathe for someone who has stopped breathing.  Without learning CPR, you may witness a loved one, or a perfect stranger, who is need of help and may only be able to stand by helplessly and wait for professional help.

The American Heart Association (AHA) encourages everyone to become certified in CPR. There are many reasons why taking the time to certify in CPR is so important. Let’s look at some facts and figures:

Without oxygen, the brain can only live for 4-6 minutes…that’s not long, and if you wait until professional help arrives (which can take up to 15 minutes), brain damage and/or death is likely to occur.

Without immediate CPR, less than 8% of heart attack victims survive long enough to reach the hospital. Less than 20% of victims have a cardiac arrest or other life-threatening injury in a hospital, which means the other 80% occur away from a hospital or a location where professional help is available.

You may be someone’s only hope…if you take the time to learn CPR. Below info-graphics shows the data of saved lives due to CPR training.

Why Everyone Should Learn Basic CPR Skills?

Below graphical representation shows some of the key data points that proves, every individual should learn CPR.

Learn more about the basic CPR training and certification course at CPR Select.

Crucial CPR Steps To An Unresponsive Child

If the time should ever come that a child you love becomes unconscious and stops breathing, you only have a few short minutes before brain damage, or even death ensues. Do you know what to do if a child needs CPR?

CPR could prevent the deaths of thousands of children every year. For this reason, every parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle and child caregiver should be certified in CPR. Every day children come in contact with dangers that could lead to loss of consciousness or an interruption in breathing. Such threats to a child’s health include:

• Choking while eating or taking vitamins.
• Allergic reaction to foods or medications.
• Bleeding from accidents in the home or automobile.
• Drowning, including in the home bathtub.
• Injury or trauma from a fall.
• Asthma attacks or other breathing issues.
• Electrical shock from common household electrical items.
• Assessing an Unresponsive Child

Child CPR is performed on a child from ages one to eight, according to the American Heart Association.

If you suspect your child is unresponsive, tap the child on the shoulder and gently shake, while speaking in a loud voice and asking “Are you okay?” If this does not wake the child and the child is not crying or breathing, you must begin child CPR.

It is important to note that if a child is unresponsive and you are alone, you should do CPR for a total of 2 minutes before calling 911. If someone is with you or within shouting distance, you should begin CPR and tell them to quickly call 911. Be sure that whomever you tell to call 911 acknowledges your request and comes back to tell you after they have called.

Performing Child CPR

Child CPR should be performed with the child laying on a hard, flat surface. If the child has been involved in an injury or accident that may have harmed the head, neck or back, be sure to move the child carefully and as little as possible to prevent further injury.

Step 1- Child Chest Compressions

• Kneel down next to the child’s chest
• Place the heel of the palm on the center of the chest in line with the victim’s nipples and use only the palm of one hand, arm and back straight.
• Chest compressions are delivered at a depth of 1/3 to 1/2 the child's chest diameter, or about 2 inches. 
• Deliver 30 compressions, at a rate of approximately 100 compressions per minute.  It is important to keep in mind that the rate of 100 compressions per minute is relatively fast and should be done without pausing or stopping.

Step 2- Child Rescue Breathing

• Open the child’s airway by gently tilting the head backward and carefully lifting the chin up slightly.  This is called a “head tilt-chin lift.”  
• Look, listen and feel for the child’s breath.  If the child is not breathing at all, or is gasping for air or breathing inadequately, you must deliver 2 rescue breaths.
• Rescue breaths are delivered by covering the child’s mouth tightly with your mouth and giving 2 breaths of air.  The rescue breaths should be forceful enough to cause the child’s chest to rise.
• If the chest does not rise, try to re-position the head and neck and try again.
• After 2 breaths, deliver another 30 chest compressions.

Step 3- Continuing Child CPR

Continue to provide 30 chest compressions followed by Step 2 process until the child becomes responsive (is breathing and has a pulse) or until professional help arrives.

Being trained in CPR and first aid can be invaluable when a child is unconscious. These life-saving techniques can help save the child during the emergency situations. Learning CPR is very easy and anyone can get CPR certified and become trained in first aid. Knowing what to do in an emergency medical situation can make a big difference between the life and death. So, find out a trusted organization who offers the AHA approved CPR training and certification program.