CPR or Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation is one of the most popular life-saving techniques that is taught throughout the world. It is mainly used to revive a person who has stopped breathing or is suffering from a stopped heart. Many lives have been saved thanks to the knowledge of this maneuver, so learning how to perform this can be very beneficial during emergencies.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is the performance of repeated chest compressions to manually restart breathing and the pumping of the heart. An optional action of breathing air into the victim’s mouth is done to input air into the lungs of the unconscious. Both these actions are done not necessarily to restart the function of the heart and the lungs, but to simulate the flow of blood and air so as not to cause lack of oxygen-carrying blood to the brain, as to delay and possibly avoid the death of the tissue involved. The delay of this phenomenon can possibly save the life of a person, so starting CPR right away upon detecting lack of breathing or a pulse is highly encouraged and advised.

The effectiveness of CPR is undisputable, with most cases of surviving victims of cardiac arrest attributing their revival to quick action of resuscitation as the foundation for further professional help. The professionals are in charge of defibrillation – the delivery of an electric shock to eventually restart the heart- and advanced life support which could depend on the type of illness that the victim has encountered. Advanced life support can include the administration of oxygen via a mask, as well as the introduction of medication such as adrenaline into the patient’s bloodstream.

Administering CPR, especially for the untrained and uninitiated, may cause complications, although it is understandable that these events happen thanks to the proliferation of misinformation in public. There is a misconception that unless you hear bones breaking, you’re not doing it the right way. In truth, professional CPR does not involve bones breaking, and is done to further avoid damage. Even so, the public has absorbed this information and the untrained perform CPR willingly with this knowledge, causing rib fractures and pierced internal organs due to the amount of force exerted. There are also different factors that affect complications. In one example, statistics show that women experience rib fractures more often than men. Ultimately, it all depends on the ability of the person performing CPR.

Getting to know how to perform CPR is a noble, yet easy task. There are a lot of centers and organizations that are more than willing to train people for free when it comes to learning CPR and other forms of basic first aid. One only has to search online for the nearest training facility or program to get started in learning CPR to be able to help in the event of any emergency requiring basic first aid. For those truly interested, applying for paid trainings is the best bet, as it is more immersive.

Artificial respiration and chest compressions can be the critical factor, the make-or-break, of a victim’s life. Any and all persons knowledgeable of CPR should always step up to the call of someone in need, so as to save their lives.

Automated External Defibrillators or AEDs are portable devices that act as temporary defibrillators for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. This equipment can be operated by almost anyone, hence it is handy to have around especially if there are people susceptible to cardiac arrest present. The function of the automated external defibrillator is the same as a manual defibrillator, only with weaker capabilities. It is then useful only as form of basic first aid, to increase the window in which professional medical personnel may arrive and quickly perform advanced life support techniques.

The automated external defibrillator differs greatly from manual defibrillators in a number of ways. The most obvious one is the way it is operated. Manual defibrillators require the operation of a professional as it is regarded as sensitive equipment. Although automated external defibrillators are also sensitive equipment, the most recent versions of these are more user-friendly, designed to be used by anyone so that when there is a problem detected, anyone nearby can be of help to the patient.

AEDs treat conditions of the heart such as arrhythmias that are deemed as life-threatening. Arrhythmia is the disease in which the heart pumps blood erratically. This can mean that the heart is pumping blood too fast or too slow, and both are equally life-threatening. The automated external defibrillator treats the heart in a sense that it detects early warning signs of the onset of cardiac arrest or if the heart starts pumping too slow or too fast and gives it an electric shock to keep the beat back to normal. For those unable to operate the equipment due to loss of consciousness, there are a lot of AEDs with very simple instructions on how to use it, allowing the bystanders to operate it and help revive a patient.

The disruption of electrical activity in the heart is what causes heart conditions such as cardiac arrest. The two types of arrhythmia are ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. V-Tach happens when heartbeat becomes incredibly fast, while ventricular fibrillation happens due to extremely irregular heart rhythm. These two causes the heart to not pump effectively, which in turn cuts off oxygen supply in the muscle and can cause tissue decay and death.

The AED stops the irregularities of the heart’s rhythm thanks to the electric output that keeps the heartbeat at a regular rate and at a normal strength. Even with the AED, CPR must still be performed in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest to make sure that the patient is revived upon arrival of the advanced medical personnel. To err in the side of caution, one should always contact the emergency services even with the existence of AED in a household, as the services of medical professionals increase the survival rate drastically. It is in the discretion of homeowners with persons suffering from arrhythmia to purchase the device for their own use, but keep in contact with medical services.

For more information and interest about automated external defibrillators, Citywide CPR shares information and are sellers of the equipment as well.

Incidents of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) occur when you least expect them. This makes having an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) a necessity in areas where people converge in large numbers such as company premises. Along with this, an AED Management Program will also be a must. Being responsible for the lives of your employees would mean providing the necessary medical equipment which would save their lives when SCA strikes.

There are a lot of companies that could offer a sturdy and reliable AED. These companies have been dedicating their time and effort in making sure that business establishments would always have an AED within reach. They have also AED Management Programs that help the employees of companies handle an AED.

An AED Management Program involves different processes, with the goal of readying company personnel in making use of the AED during an emergency. Aside from ensuring that employees know how to use one, effective programs would also include instructions on the proper care and maintenance of AED.

In the workplace, AED management is a must especially if the members of the workforce are already getting old. Personnel aged 40 and above are at the risk of suffering from SCA, hence an AED must be made available in areas where they are located. On the other hand, having a workforce comprised of younger employees will not be a ground for not securing an AED. There have been many cases where those in their twenties suffer from SCA as they have already been predisposed to such due to their genes. In some cases, the super unhealthy lifestyle of such individuals also makes them at risk for a cardiac arrest.

How to Look for the Right AED Management Program

One thing that you need to remember when looking for a good AED Management Program is to make sure of the integrity and the trustworthiness of the company offering it. This can be ascertained by checking out the number of companies that it serves, as well as the efficacy of their training programs. The number of years that it has been providing such a program is also noteworthy to check, albeit, this does not necessarily follow that they are already reliable.

If you have received an honest referral, then it might be good to check out the company being referred. You might as well scrutinize the inclusions in the program that they are offering vis-à-vis the cost and the company’s experience.

Having an AED Management Program will certainly prove beneficial for your company. It will not only save the lives of your employees, but in the process, it will help you earn the respect and loyalty of your employees.

If you have seen movies involving accidents, cardiac arrests and the like, then you might have noticed that device used by paramedics or nurses on dying patients, which sends an electric shock to the body in order to resuscitate life. That device is known as the Automated External Defibrillator or AED.

Here are some things that you need to know with regards to the AED:

• AEDs are used to get the heart beating again. So if a person has stopped breathing and the heart is no longer beating, the use of an AED would be necessary. By sending the electric shock, the defibrillator will help in restoring the normal rhythm of the heart.

• AEDs can be used on victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). This condition is notoriously known in the United States to claim the lives of many individuals every year, accounting for more than the total number of deaths due to other medical conditions combined. The timeframe between an attack and medical intervention must have to be very short so that the life of the victim can be saved. Absent the proper intervention within that timeframe, the victim’s chance of survival becomes slimmer. Hence, the utilization of an AED immediately becomes vital.

• There are AEDs that you can use at home. Look for a home-use AED and as much as possible, try to secure some training in the use of one. However, it does not mean that if you were not able to have some formal training, you will not be able to use it even if there is already an emergency. Modern AEDs are easy to use. They can monitor the heart rhythm and a voice prompt will actually inform you when a shock should be administered.

• The presence of an AED has become a must in areas where many people are found. You can find AEDs in malls, hospitals, public buildings, schools, etc. These establishments have come to ascertain the necessity of a standby AED as time is crucial whenever a person suffers from sudden cardiac arrest.

• If an AED is not available, administer CPR until such device is within reach. Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can be applied until an AED is available. Of course, make sure that you call 911 as soon as the attack happens.

An AED must be made part of your home if SCA runs in the family. This portable device will definitely come in handy whenever emergency cases strike your home. It will save your life and that of your loved ones. It would also help to ensure that you or one of your family member has undergone a CPR training so that you would be able to provide the right kind of support no matter the situation.

Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, more commonly known as CPR, is a first-aid technique that can be applied by any individual in order to maintain breathing or regain heartbeat. While this may be considered as the most basic lifesaving technique, one should exercise caution when applying CPR on a victim. Your skill in doing CPR is a determining factor whether you should do the most basic CPR or the more advanced type of CPR.

When it comes to the application of CPR, one can be categorized as either “trained” or “untrained.” The difference between these two categories is quite obvious. Those who fall under the skilled category are individuals who have been trained to do CPR, such as those who are in the medical field or have worked at institutions engaged in providing health care services, like Red Cross and the like.

On the other hand, unskilled individuals are those without formal training when it comes to applying first aid. However, this does not prevent them from applying the process when emergencies arrive as there is the basic CPR technique and the more advanced type of CPR.

Trained

Trained individuals have the capability to do the more complex type of CPR which involves chest compressions and rescue breathing. Chest compressions refer to the process of putting one’s hands in the middle of the chest and giving fast uninterrupted compressions which must account for more than one compression in a second. Rescue breathing refers to the process of blowing air into the mouth of the victim.

Trained people continually give 30 pumps (chest compressions) and 2 breaths until rescuers arrive. This process has been known to save a lot of lives all over the world.

Untrained

Those who lack the proper first-aid training can apply what is called the Hands-Only CPR. This only involves chest compressions without the accompanying rescue breathing. Here, the average chest compressions to be applied should be around 100/minute. This means that one pump must not take one second to complete in order to reach 100 pumps per one minute.

A background in CPR is a must for every individual. Such knowledge can very well save the life of either a stranger, or a loved one. If you believe that you have no training in CPR, better remember the hands-only CPR where you are not required to do rescue breathing, but only to do continuous chest compressions. Who knows? The life you save might just belong to the one closest to your heart.

If you want to know more about how to properly administer CPR, your best bet would be to attend a CPR training. There are a number of companies like Citywide CPR that offer courses and certification on such.

Many individuals believe that Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training is not necessary since there will always be rescuers who will make haste to their locations whenever emergency situations arise. However, there are several good reasons why CPR Training is one that you should seriously consider undergoing.

Living in Remote Locations

If you are living in a remote location and an emergency arises, such as a sudden heart attack or an untoward accident, the possibility of help arriving immediately is seemingly remote. In such a case, knowledge of CPR will prove useful. A minute or two of CPR may just spell the difference between saving the life of a loved one and simply waiting for the worst to come.

Fatal Accidents

Accidents are called as such because they happen when you least expect them. When these incidents occur it is better to be armed with skills gained from the proper CPR Training as your presence might be the key in saving someone’s life.

The basic CPR, which involves successive chest compressions of about 100/minute can be done by any individual even with the slightest training. This method would only require you to put both hands, locked together, in the middle of the chest of the victim and continuously pump it to the tune of “Stayin Alive.” The more advanced CPR method, administered by trained individuals, involves giving rescue breaths in between pumps.

So if you happen to witness an accident and the victim’s heart has stopped beating, it would be crucial to administer any type of CPR, whether the basic hands-only CPR or the more advanced one until help arrives.

Predisposition to Heart Attack

If it would seem that your ascendants or most family members have died due to a heart attack or a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), then it becomes a must for you to undergo CPR Training. Victims of SCA normally lose consciousness immediately and their hearts would simply stop beating. When this happens, aside from calling 911, administer CPR without a second thought. Recent studies have shown that administering CPR longer than 30 minutes increases the chances of survival of the victim.

One can see that CPR training is not just a luxury, but a necessity. Even if your circumstance does not fall in any of the three above, your knowledge in CPR will certainly help save lives comes the time that somebody would need it. The life that you save might even be that of a friend or family.

If you are looking for a CPR training center where you can get your certification, you might want to consider Citywide CPR.

Alarmingly, 88 percent of cardiac arrest happen in homes. This is why anyone is encouraged to learn how to do CPR or Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is an emergency procedure performed to provide a trickle of oxygenated blood to the brain and heart and vital organs until defibrillation can be performed.

Cardiac arrest occurs when electrical impulses in the heart become chaotic or rapid that causes the heart to suddenly stop beating, a heart attack on the other hand, occurs when the blood supply to a heart muscle is blocked and it may cause cardiac arrest. Statistically, four out of five cardiac arrests happen at home.

It is important to understand that CPR does not automatically restart a heart. While performing CPR, you are manually pumping blood through the heart, which is important for someone experiencing cardiac arrest. If a ventricular fibrillation occurs with no CPR or AED administered within 10 minutes, chances of survival is significantly low. Hence, is CPR is administered immediately, a patient’s rate of survival doubles, even triples.

CPR: The New Approach

CPR was first introduced in the form of mouth to mouth resuscitation and then later developed into what would become one of the basic first aid practices. Before CPRs are done in an ABC Approach that stands for Airway, Breathing and Circulation. However, the current process follows a CAB Approach. The patient will experience delay in breathing for approximately 18 seconds in this new process but circulation through compressions is more vital than addressing breathing or airway.

Thirty compressions are immediately provided, then the patient’s head is tilted to open the airway, then gives two breaths. The current process has removed Cricoid Pressure that involves applying pressure to the windpipe while breathing on them. Studies have shown this practice is difficult for rescuers to perform besides this action does not make much of a difference.

CPR can be physically exhausting for a rescuer and since CPR has to be done continuously until AED is made available. If another person is present to help give CPR, you can switch out every two minutes.

The rescuer should place the heel of one hand on the center of the victim’s chest and the other hand right on top of the other with the fingers intertwined. From 1 ½ inches deep, the current guidelines have changed it to 2 inches. This is to pump enough blood while the AED is on its way. A rate of at least 100 compressions per minute has to be delivered. In place of breathing for the victim, high quality compressions must be given until professional rescue arrives.

A total of two breaths should be given to the patient and then the rescuer must immediately start chest compressions. A cycle of 30 impressions and 2 breaths should be continued until help arrives.

With more research on human body discovering new and profound data on how to treat problems, CPR standards will continue to evolve to increase the rate of survival in cardiac arrest. One must be knowledgeable about the latest approach in CPR to save more lives.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is one of the most important basic first aid actions to undertake for people who are suffering a heart attack. Knowledge of the maneuver can be of great help in the event that someone is experiencing heart attack to help the probability of revival and survival.

Heart attacks are one of the biggest killers of the world. Many countries, both developed and undeveloped, have heart attack as one of the top ten causes of death in their citizens. There are a lot of causes of heart attacks. The most natural cause of heart attack is a weak heart, something that is acquired on birth. A weak heart, combined with stress and shock, can easily put a person under cardiac arrest. One other reason, which is less natural, is the bad lifestyle and habits of the person. The intake of lots of fats and oils can affect the integrity of blood vessels, clogging blood flow, increasing blood pressure, and can ultimately lead to the stop of blood flow. These are just two of a myriad of reasons that causes heart attacks.

Knowing the causes is one way to prevent a heart attack. Avoiding too much heart-attack inducing food is one way, the other is avoiding too much stress. Even with avoidance, there are still times when heart attacks should be expected. There are signs and symptoms that tell that a heart attack might occur. The term ‘might’ is used because there is no certainty that a heart attack might happen, as these signs and symptoms are mostly common enough for most unfit people. Having chest pains is one of the most common symptom of heart attacks. Shortness of breath, too much sweat and fatigue could all signify that the person might be close to experiencing a heart attack.

For those that are able to detect and recognize the onset of these symptoms, partnered with the knowledge of the person’s history or lifestyle, one can deduce if a person is susceptible in experiencing a heart attack. With the knowledge of an expected heart attack, even with a little chance, there are times when getting proper CPR training can be helpful in the long run.

Training for CPR can be done as fast as an hour or as long as a month. The skill that you will get will also differ from the time that you can allot for the training period. There are also differences between free trainings and paid trainings, with the availability of qualified personnel to assist you personally, as well as the equipment you can use for the training period. More practice and more time given to the training will ensure that the technique that you will be able to develop is something that can be really useful if and when the time comes that you will have to use what you have learned. The knowledge of proper pumping and pacing can be the critical aspect in the life or death situation that you may find yourself into.

Cardiac arrest is a serious complication that must be dealt with swiftly to ensure a higher revival and survival rate for the victims of the attack. Heart attack commonly occurs for older people, but sometimes, there are children and even infants that suffer from this illness. Heart attack does not choose its victims, but there are ways in which someone can help the revival of a person that is undergoing sudden cardiac arrest and that is through the administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is the process of repeated chest compressions along with the inputting of air into a person’s lungs. This seemingly simple maneuver takes a long time to master and to successfully administer, but being able to have rudimentary knowledge is good enough for the layperson. For those truly wanting to know how to perform proper and effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a training done under the wing of a professional CPR administrator that has the proper equipment that can help you practice the technique.

There are different ways to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation, depending on the person involved. Children and infants require special care and technique when administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation due to the current density of their bones. There is a difference in the way the chest compression is facilitated. There is only a set number of inches that you can compress a child or an infant’s chest before possible damage. Although the damage is also present when chest compressions are administered, there is a bigger leeway for chest compressions, making it more thorough.

Children and infant chest compressions, when done thoroughly could break the ribs and pierce internal organs of the children and infants. Taking special care to have the right force to have sufficient chest compressions to be effective without breaking anything is hard. With the right training for the persons involved, anyone can be able to utilize proper chest compressions for infants, children and adults as well.

The most important difference when administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation for children, infants, and adults is the way the palm and the wrist are placed. Children require the use of the heel from one or two hands for the chest compression. Infants only require the use of fingers for the right force to be applied. For adults, proper chest compressions require the use of both hands in fist form.

There are risks when administering CPR for anyone, and that is the risk of vomiting. This is the most common risk. The way to go around the problem is by tilting the head of the victim to the side so that the pathway of the breath is cleared. Always sweep or wipe off the vomit so that you can continue the CPR and breathing in the person. Children are also susceptible to vomiting, so make sure that persons administering chest compressions know these risks to make sure that the path of air is not blocked, making any and all effort for chest compressions useless.

Proper training is one of the most important thing to have when it comes to administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Children, although young and healthy, are still susceptible to a number of cardiovascular problems. There are children born with defects due to the improper development of parts of their cardiovascular system, commonly called as congenital heart defects. There are also those that develop heart diseases as they grow up. Some of the most common heart diseases that children are susceptible to developing are mostly acquired due to other complications. Some of these include Kawasaki disease, rheumatic heart diseases, and heart diseases caused by childhood obesity.

Congenital defects are different from heart diseases as congenital defects do not develop due to external factors, unlike the diseases. The Kawasaki diseases is caused by an unknown infectious agent and is acquired by young children. The rheumatic heart disease is caused by rheumatic fever and affects the heart of children that are not treated quickly. All these diseases can cause sudden cardiac arrest.

With the increasing number of children being affected by heart diseases, it is time that people be informed of techniques and procedures in applying cardiopulmonary resuscitation and using an automatic external defibrillator for children. It is important to note that there are major differences between administering CPR and AED to children, infants, and adults. These differences can spell the effectiveness and possible injury that can be acquired by children and infants.

Administering CPR

For starters, administering CPR for children does not require the same force needed for adult CPR. The anatomy of children is significantly different from that of an adult, so the necessary compression of 2 inches is not recommended. Doing so may result in more damage that could complicate problems. As someone who is administering CPR, you can decrease the force you are applying by using only a single hand to proceed with the compressions. Other than the force, you must be careful in positioning the body of children or infants before compressions, as it is important that their airways are clear.

Utilizing AED

Automatic external defibrillators produce a charge that is powerful enough to shock a grown man’s heart back into beating. This means that this amount of energy may be too much for the body of a child, much more to an infant. This means that you must be able to properly use an AED that can make it useful for a child without charging up the body of the victim with too much electricity. This can be done by reading the quick rescue tips written in some AEDs, or if it has voice function, listening to the instructions for use on children and infants.

To get more information regarding the use of CPR and AED for children and infants, as well as to receive proper instruction, it is best to find a training center near you, and informing the trainer or those in charge of the training of your goal of learning CPR and AED to perform on children and infants. This way, you can get hands-on experience on performing CPR, even if the victims are only mannequins to practice on. You can also consult with experts regarding the do’s and don’ts of CPR and AED administration on children and infants.