If someone happens to just lose consciousness while they are beside you, would you know what to do? For most people, their response would be to look for the phone, call the paramedics, and wait for them to come by. For a select few, however, the answer would be include, “administer CPR”.
CPR, also known as Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, is a medical procedure done in order to restore blood circulation as well as prevent tissue necrosis, especially in a person’s vital organs. It is typically done in people who have suffered from myocardial infarction and are unresponsive. Keep in mind, however, that, as opposed to what many people think, CPR does not actually jumpstart the heart. What it does is simulate blood circulation in order to ensure that the oxygen being carried by the blood cells are able to reach the various tissues of the body’s major organs. By doing so, tissue necrosis is prevented. In most cases, defibrillation is needed in order to ensure the natural beating pattern of the heart.
Because of the risk that comes with chest compression such as broken ribs, many people are adamant about extending help to an unconscious person. In truth, however, administering CPR is not as hard as most people think especially now that the American Heart Association has come up with guidelines that make saving another person’s life even simpler. The said guidelines would secede the 2005 set of guidelines by the American Heart Association. With the new guidelines in place, the only thing that one has to remember is to make as much chest compression as possible without stopping.
If in the past much of the focus is on making sure that the A-B-C is followed when it comes to reviving an unconscious victim, that is no longer the case. The latest guidelines has re-arranged the order of the letters with more focused on Chest Compression; thus, the order now is C-A-B. This is applicable for those who have experience in administering CPR. For those who do not have any experience in CPR administration, the 2010 guidelines suggest continued chest compression. Each of the compression, however, needs to be at least 2 inches deep and should number to as much as 100 compressions in a minute. The best way to ensure that one’s timing is correct, many professionals recommend to time the push or the compression to the beat of “Stayin’ Alive”. Most professionals also recommend that first aiders, and even bystanders, should only stop compression if they get tired and have someone to replace them or if the paramedics have already arrived. With the results of recent studies pointing at the fact that prolonged CPR can actually increase the chances of survival, the endorsement of continued compression comes as no surprise. Once the victim becomes conscious, however, continued medical supervision is recommended. This is to ensure that the delay in the blood circulation has not caused any long-term effects.
Prepare yourself for any kind of situation by undergoing the CPR training and certification program being provided by Citywide CPR.
