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Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): Life-saving Technique 

What is CPR?

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a life-preserving technique that is used to keep the body’s blood and oxygen flowing after the person’s heart and breathing have stopped.

CPR is used to treat a person experiencing cardiac arrest. When a person’s heartbeat is stopped, the heart is unable to pump blood to the body including the mind and lungs. Death of the person can happen within seconds if CPR is not provided immediately.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), 95% of sudden cardiac arrest victims die before any health facility arrives. In this case, CPR increases the survival of the victims by two or three times. Above all, 80% of sudden cardiac arrest cases happen at home therefore, gaining information and getting CPR Training Red Cross Certification will help save several lives.

CPR is different for people with different age groups. For adults, chest compression is performed with two hands, for children with one hand, and infants with fingers.

Types of CPR 

There are the following two life-saving techniques of CPR:

Hands-only CPR: Hands-only CPR is provided by pushing the hands on the chest of the victim. Hands-only CPR helps to keep the blood flow through the body.

CPR with Breaths: Traditional CPR with breaths is a chest compression with mouth-to-mouth breaths. Mouth-to-mouth breaths provide additional oxygen to the body until medical help arrives.

To Whom Should be Given Hands-only CPR and Traditional CPR?

Hands-only CPR is usually provided to adults in distress. Traditional CPR with breaths is given to adults, children, infants, and teens who are experiencing cardiac arrest. 

People who are trained can provide traditional CPR or Hands-only CPR according to the situation. For hands-only CPR chest compressions should be 100 to 120 per minute.

People who are not trained or are not comfortable with traditional CPR should provide hands-only CPR.

Everyone should try to get training in first aid and CPR.

Many organizations require CPR certification including childcare centers, health care, firefighters, and Security guard services.

How to Perform Hands-only CPR?

Hands-only CPR should only be performed on adults or teens in cardiac arrest by people with CPR training. 

The steps to perform hands-only CPR are below:

Place the Person

To give chest compressions, place the person safely on a firm, flat surface on their back.

Put Your Hands and Start Compressions

If the victim is an adult, place the heel of one of your palms in the center of the person’s chest. Put the other hand on the top of the first hand, cross your fingers and lift them so that only heels remain on the chest. For compressions, center your whole weight on your hands, push hard down to 2 inches and leave the pressure but not your hands. Let the chest come back between the compressions.   

If the victim is a child then using one hand place the heel of your hand on the chest of the child and compress down 2 inches.

For infants, use two fingers to compress the chest. Push down to 1.5 inches not deeper than that. 

Give 30 compressions at the rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute until the person begins to breathe.

How to Perform Mouth-to-mouth CPR?

Before performing mouth-to-mouth CPR give 30 chest compressions.

Open the Airway

Move towards the person’s head, and put the palm of your hand on the patient’s forehead. Tilt his head back and lift his chin forward with your other hand. Let his mouth open slightly.

Provide Rescue Breaths

With an open airway, squeeze the nostrils tight and cover the patient’s mouth with a CPR mask to seal the mouth and give breaths. 

If the victim is an infant, cover both mouth and neck with the mask. 

If a mask is not available, take a breath, put your mouth over the patient’s mouth and blow the air until the patient’s chest rises.

If the patient’s chest does not rise, repeat the procedure. 

Perform Chest Compressions with Rescue Breath

You can also perform chest compressions with rescue breaths alternatively. Place your hands on the patient’s chest and continue 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths. Repeat this process until the patient starts breathing. 

The Bottom Line

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is vital for saving lives. It can significantly increase the chances of someone’s survival if provided accurately. The steps of hands-only CPR and traditional CPR with breaths may vary provided the person is a child, adult, or infant. However, the cycle of chest compressions and rescue breaths will remain the same.

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