Being responsible for more than 325,000 deaths every year, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) has been determined as the number one cause of death in the US. This statistics also means that a US citizen passes away in every two minutes, more or less, due to this heart disease. In addition, it has been found out that 95 percent of the entire SCA deaths take place before the patient is brought to a hospital. It should be noted then that this heart condition is extremely threatening and its occurrence is very unpredictable. These and more suggest anyone to learn at least the basics of CPR and the use of AED.
You may have seen on TV and movies how cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR works as a life-saver to someone undergoing sudden cardiac arrest. Indeed, CPR works and could be practiced even by a person who is not a medical expert. One of the most important things you have to understand about CPR is its primary purpose, which is to provide a way to deliver blood in and out of the heart and brain. In this way, death of brain tissues is delayed and suppressed while the heart is still incapable of pumping blood by itself. As soon as the heart becomes fortunately able to resume its normal operation, you can stop the CPR and proceed to other necessary actions as needed in the specific case of the sufferer.
Another important thing about CPR you have to keep in mind is the proper way of applying chest compressions. Basically, it should be done at least 5 cm deep at a frequency of around 100 times each minute. It is also advisable to provide as much space as possible to the patient to further increase the success rate of CPR. If possible, get the help of someone to call for a physician to attend the sufferer and apply the precise remedy immediately, especially when there is no hospital or any medical clinic nearby. While waiting for medical assistance, just do your best to use CPR as a means of continuing the blood circulation through the patient’s vital organs.
In addition to CPR, the use of automated external defibrillator or AED is advisable as well. This computer-based lifesaver device is primarily intended to analyze the patient’s heart rhythm. If it is a semi-automated AED, the device will let the patient do the necessary action after delivering the findings on the patient’s heart condition and determining the required electric shock to be applied to the patient’s chest. On the other hand, fully automatic AEDs no longer need human intervention because it immediately performs the appropriate necessary action out of the analysis on the heart rhythm of the patient. You can use any of these types of AED to maximize the chances of the sufferer to survive such critical life situation.
If you want to know more about CPR, one of the best things you can do is to go for Citywide CPR’s CPR training. This is where you can practice the most prescribed way of doing CPR and understand other importance facts, including the proper way of using AEDs. Have your CPR training and become an official lifesaver for your loved ones!
