Facts about CPR
Sudden cardiac
arrest is the leading cause of death in adults. Most arrests occur in
persons with underlying heart disease.
CPR doubles a person's chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest.
75% of all cardiac arrests happen in people's homes.
The typical victim of cardiac arrest is a man in his early 60's and a woman in her late 60's.
Cardiac arrest
occurs twice as frequently in men compared to women.
CPR was invented in 1960.
There has never been a case of HIV transmitted by mouth-to-mouth CPR.
In sudden cardiac arrest the heart goes from a normal heartbeat to a quivering
rhythm called ventricular fibrillation (VF). This happens in approximately
2/3rds of all cardiac arrests. VF is fatal unless an electric shock, called
defibrillation, can be given. CPR does not stop VF but CPR extends the
window of time in which defibrillation can be effective.
CPR provides a trickle of oxygenated blood to the brain and heart and
keeps these organs alive until defibrillation can shock the heart into
a normal rhythm.
If CPR is started within 4 minutes of collapse and defibrillation provided within 10 minutes a person has a 40% chance of survival.
CPR
- As easy as “A - B - C”
A - AIRWAY
• Place victim
flat on his/her back on a hard surface.
• Shake victim at the shoulders and shout "are you okay?"
• If no response, call emergency medical system — 911
then,
• Head-tilt/chin-lift — open victims' airway by
tilting their head back with one hand while lifting up their chin with
your other hand.
B - BREATHING
• Position
your cheek close to victims' nose and mouth, look toward victims' chest,
and
• Look, listen, and feel for breathing (5-10 seconds)
• If not breathing, pinch victim's nose closed and give 2 full
breaths into victim's mouth (use microshield).
• If breaths won't go in, reposition head and try again to give breaths.
If still blocked, perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver)
C - CIRCULATION
• Check for
carotid pulse by feeling for 5-10 seconds at side of victims' neck.
• If there is a pulse but victim is not breathing, give Rescue
breathing at rate of 1 breath every 5 seconds
Or 12 breaths per minute
• If there is no pulse, begin chest compressions as follows:
• Place heel of one hand on lower part of victim's sternum. With your
other hand directly on top of first hand, Depress sternum 1.5 to 2 inches.
• Perform 15 compressions to every 2 breaths.
(rate: 80-100 per minute)
• check for return of pulse every minute.
CONTINUE UNINTERRUPTED UNTIL ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE.
