Handling the Heat Wave

Heat waves claim the most lives of all the natural disasters because the sudden spike in temperature can do some serious damage to a person, especially if they are unhealthy or have a weak heart.  In 2015 alone, India and Pakistan were hit, killing more than 4,500 people combined.

An article published by the Washington Post last June revealed “two-thirds of adults are at an unhealthy weight”. “75 percent of men and 67 percent of women ages 25 and older are now overweight and obese”.

Add that thought to the multitude of accidents that can occur to people and you’ve got a recipe for disaster, especially with CPR or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. The technique is a wonderful skill that can bring back people to consciousness after losing a heartbeat.

The abstract entitled The Effects of Obesity on CPR Quality and Survival after Cardiac Arrest by scientists Edelson, Abella, Kim, Hoek, Becker from the University of Chicago Hospitals and University of Pennsylvania concluded morbid obesity an amplifier in the worst revival sessions. It has something to do with the quality of chest compressions received as compared to smaller patients, mainly due to the size of the patient.

CPR Training will teach you what to do when certain situations like that arise. What it takes to fix a problem related to reviving someone using your bare hands and mind.

The instructors will teach you the following steps, tried and tested moves that shall make you an effective weapon in rescue missions.

The most comprehensive way of doing it would be in this sequence: (1) opening the airway, (2) chest compressions not less than 30 times but not over 100, depending on the literacy of the performer, (3) breathe twice in the mouth of the patient, (4) repeat the third step, (5) repeat fifth step, and (6) rinse and repeat.

Having CPR Training with your friends is probably the best way of learning the skill, since not all people have been urged to perform the skill. Most people only see it in movie scenes so it would be cool to live and reenact what is usually portrayed on the TV.

Not only do you spend time with people you love, you get to spend it more with them. Undergoing CPR Training is a lot of fun, but applying it makes all the difference because if you manage to pull it off without any problems, the one you revived will most likely thank you for what you’ve done for him/her.

But if you don’t succeed in your attempts, it is okay since you can always call for help. Do not do things you know you could not do because every second is precious and rescue is of the optimum importance.

The call would make a huge impact. Even though medical personnel are trained under pressure, tell them initial information about the patient to help them paint a bigger picture.

Those things will be part of CPR training, particularly street smart and how to deal with stresses.

CPR Training and the Internet

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or CPR is a very crucial and important skill to learn. If you know it and someone collapses in front of you due to either heat or exhaustion, you can use that skill to revive the downed person. You can save that person given you know the skill.

But if not, CPR Training should be underway. You may never know who might need that skill: a victim you’re trying to save, someone associated with a heart-attack-prone person, your loved ones. Life insurance is not fool-proof and you will still need to learn other lifesaving methods.

Only eight percent of those who suffer cardiac arrest live to tell the tale; the remaining 92 are DOA, according to research. If a person knows how to do CPR and is in the area of the one experiencing cardiac arrest, a hospital may not be needed anymore.

The Internet is a wonderful tool because it bridges people together digitally, providing information unlike no other. One can learn the basics of CPR Training, watch videos online, and check lobbies and forums regarding the matter.

It’s not bad to depend on the Internet for answers, but since what you will be dealing with when you’re giving CPR is the life of another person, it is better to go and find someone to teach you the skill. Hands-on is the best way of learning the skill since doing is better than observing, for this skill that is.

Some countries made laws aiding CPR Training. If you are just beginning to learn the skill, there are reputable institutions that train its students in doing the task. Even better when you are just a student since schools, especially in New York, will now teach the skill in High School.

Defibrillators will also be used in training people how to jolt the victim back to life. When push comes to shove is not effective anymore, machines can take over what’s lacking. Defibrillation is the process which an electronic device jolts the heart with an electric shock. It is usually used when the patient has no pulse or unresponsive, most commonly during a cardiopulmonary attack.

It could be used on someone who’s drowned or suffered sudden cardiac arrest, since most people die out after two minutes of being incapacitated to the latter.

Shock paddles come in different shapes and sizes. Some are wearable while others need to be transported with other medical equipment like the Advanced Life Support (ALS).

Although various medical units around the world are trained to handle more advanced situations, it pays to know the basics of reviving someone with defibrillators, delaying that person from wasting away until professional help arrives.

Defibrillation was first shown by Jean-Louis Prevost and Frederic Batelli after observing small electric shocks delivered to the heart jumpstarts ventricular fibrillation while larger ones could reverse the process.

It took a long time before that observation became possible, even though electricity was already discovered in the 1700’s.

Don’t do something when it’s already too late. Enroll yourself in CPR Training now.

The Two Stages of CPR

When someone faints to exhaustion or a near-drowning incident, administrating Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or CPR should be under way. Emergency Medical Technicians or EMT’s should be called to the scene for additional support, since you may never know what could happen in tense situations like that.

The following shall be the two stages CPR, followed by an example situation and when it is best or most commonly used. These are just scenarios where they shine most, where they are most optimal.

The first stage would be chest compressions. It is the act of pumping a person’s air and blood. Having a steady circulation through the entire body means a steady supply for organs of the body, which is vital for life support.

If you are new to CPR, experts suggest at least 100 pumps a minute until help arrives.  Oxygen and blood work side-by-side and is directly proportional in CPR. The more oxygen the body has, the better quality of blood.

This is particularly efficient when you are not yet ready for the more advanced skills and opt to do what you know. Sticking to your guns is better than doing something you are not well-versed with, especially if you get nervous when there are a lot of people around (crowded trains, transportation terminals, schools).

Some websites provide steps and techniques to hands-only CPR. Deriving from the name, it is the method used without the famous Kiss of Life or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Push hard and fast: it’s what most practitioners say when performing the skill. Once you get the hang of it, lifesaving becomes easier to perform and almost feels like clockwork. Training for the skill is important since you become someone better than you were before.

The second stage would be mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. It is a step up the first method and is usually chained to the process. It is not a separate move and can actually be alternated with the Kiss of Life.

This is a move the professionals do and should not be done by acolytes. It would be detrimental for the patient since if one fails in the Kiss of Life, he/she could block the patient’s airway. If one would follow the three-lettered abbreviation in doing CPR, C-A-B or Compressions – Airway – Breathing, the second one would not be fulfilled, voiding the entire process immediately.

The Kiss of Life fits lifesavers who want to revive near-drowning survivors, who may still have excess water in their lungs, or those with difficulty breathing or need artificial respiration. Oxygen is one of the most important aspects of the entire process and it must be the priority.

If you know that you could not perform advanced techniques yet, but willing to do so for self-improvement, CPR training is available. It is an experience like no other, with willing instructors ready to help you with the training. They come from different experiences and sport colorful backgrounds that prompted them to learn the skill of lifesaving.

All you need to do is push harder.

The Power of CPR

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or CPR is a lifesaving technique employed when a person’s heartbeat or breathing has stopped. It begins with a volley of chest compressions and can even include the use of defibrillators.

According to the American Heart Association, untrained personnel must provide hands-only CPR.  Chest compressions should not stop or at least go down 100 per minute. It is much better if paramedics and rescue personnel are called to the scene for assistance to reduce the risk of the victim.

The trained have more flexibility to what they can do for rescue. They can perform more advanced techniques such as mouth-to-mouth and even tilting the chin of the victim.

If you want to help people and patients more in the art of CPR, one can enroll in more advanced classes. CPR training is readily available and can be more expansive depending upon your needs. Learning the act of CPR can really save lives and improve your connection to people.

One of the perks of successful CPR would be keeping oxygenated blood to the brain and organs of the fallen. No matter how amateur a person may be in CPR, if it’s done right then the person can thank you later or until rescue arrives.

When chest-compression is not enough, defibrillators are the next best thing. Every paramedic is trained to use one and even normal citizens can get access to one. Take note that defibrillators can cause serious damage so proper training and taking care of it should be in place.

Good news is that all the intricacies surrounding CPR and the usage of shock paddles shall be discussed during training. It will include seminars and how-to’s, a lot of it.

CPR should not be the first and only option for those who want to help. There is the 911, paramedics, and hospital personnel. Even your family doctor can be on call to support. Do not take everything on alone; that’s why they are there to swoop in to save the day.

There are always support groups who can be of assistance. You can do your part by enrolling yourself in classes and sessions for CPR-related issues. It is better to know a lot of things than to limit yourself in what you know.

Be the person you are, don’t try too hard to be someone you’re not so that others may notice or give you credit.

The acronym C-A-B, or Compressions – Airway – Breathing, as stated by the American Heart Association, should always be followed when performing CPR. Compressions restore blood circulation; the airway provides gateway to oxygen; and breathing when oxygen access is usually cut-off due to injuries.

Defibrillators also work in the same manner; however it takes greater care to pull off and would usually take more finesse and skill to do. It is better to also call 911 for back-up since you do not have any assurance of the patient recovering from the incident.

CPR is more than just a life-saving technique, it is an art form in its own right.

The Unsung Hero

Supposed you find someone lying down on the floor. What is the first thing that will come to mind in this kinds of emergency situation?  This kinds of state of affairs are fairly common nowadays especially for the elderly person may it be inside of a building or even their own houses and even outside like the party gatherings. It is then necessary for many especially those accompanying the common victims of fainting and such to know the basics of performing what we call the cardiopulmonary resuscitation or most commonly known as the CPR. CPR training is very easy to understand and learn even for the beginners with no background in any medical fields and such.

In emergency situations, the first thing that those under CPR training should learn is to be calm and collected during emergencies, for it is because if the respondent becomes alarmed and panic under these circumstances, chance are, the CPR will not work properly thus resulting into unfavourable results for both the casualty and the respondent. During CPR training, it is important that the student be able to assess the situation quickly and to make sure that the surrounding is safe from hazardous elements such as electrical wires, chemical spills, and even gas fumes that might be very dangerous not only for the fainted patient but also for the respondent. It is very important that the surrounding be assessed carefully and quickly for the respondent will not be able to help anyone if they become victims as well. The next part of the training is checking if there is any response from the victim by shaking or tapping the victim’s body for any response from them, check if the victim is still breathing or if there are any sustained injuries that might have caused some kind of incident. Checking the pulse of the victim is also important before performing the CPR.

When all of this is done, it is now time to perform the CPR. The respondent should now thrust the chest of the victim and also giving two breaths to the victim’s mouth for the air needed of the victim. It is important that the CPR be a continuous process until help has arrived and if possible, the pumping and breathing should be in a good pattern with no shortage of energy from the respondent. Thus, it is imperative for the respondent to be fit and have strong arms to be able to perform good CRP for the victim, it is for the reason that conducting a CPR could be very tasking and difficult with those who have weak arms.

It is important to know these basic steps of CPR. Undergoing professional training is the best way to be able to give the best CPR possible for the victim. Though it can be a hassle and also time consuming to undergo professional training, knowing these basic steps of performing the CPR could be very much a good changer for the circumstances that could very well change the outcome of one’s life in the process.

Simple Yet Dependable

A simple CPR can change the life of a person. But what actually happens during the performance of a CPR? Studies show that a person has seven minutes left of brain activity before their inevitable death, in this seven minutes, their lives are being shown to them in a form of dream. During CPR, one could ask then what is currently happening in the mind of the victim, would it be possible for them to be also experiencing the dream about their lives? This we cannot know for there is no string evidence about the dream state for the dying person. One thing is for certain though, many people that has gone through cardiac arrest and such, can very well may be dead now if it wasn’t for the quick response and the effectiveness of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation done by the respondents.

During emergencies, many individuals would be overwhelmed by the current situation thus making them unable to respond well and save the life of the victim. Those who were able to respond quickly and efficiently can save the lives of the victim however and there has been many stories about the successful respondents and the victims owing their lives to the heroics of the respondents. The stories differ from each other and there are even heart-warming ones where the person saved was the one the respondent will spend the rest of their lives with. Stories such as these are very rare but at the same time, very romantic. Just thinking about it is quite romantic, being the one to save the life of your love one is quite the feat and also a very proud moment for the respondent.

One story is the story of two lovers that fell from the waterfall and miraculously survive thanks to the heroics of the man who is an excellent swimmer and also very good at conducting the said lifesaving technique. Not only did he saved the life of his love one, he also gave her, her first kiss. Though many would like to learn this technique solely for the reason that they might be able to kiss the victim in their lips and nothing else, it is still useful for one to at least knew the basics if this very useful technique that can be used in emergency situations and save the life of their love ones and even respond to the need of a stranger.

The satisfaction felt after saving one’s life is quite something. Only a few knew about this and it is without a doubt that they have felt very good about themselves with this achievement that they were able to accomplish with the help of a very simple technique such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation. They have felt good about themselves and happy for the family and love ones of the ones they were able to save. It is due to the fact that, they know in their hearts that after their heroic efforts, a family will be able to spend their day happy and it is all thanks to them.

The Boy’s Hero

A little boy doesn’t know his name but he guesses that he might be about high school in his age. He witnessed him in action as the young man saved a little boy from drowning with the use of CPR. He wanted to let the young man know how proud he is for his efforts.

The little boy knows that it is the job of the young man but it also his worst fear for the reason that no one can ever have enough CPR training to prepare the respondent for what the moment would actually feel like.

The little boy saw the entire episode play out as it was is slow motion. He could see the body of the drowned kid limp as the lifeguard carried him out of the water and laying him into the shore. At that point, he remembered, that he hasn’t even seen what was happening during that faithful day.

The lifeguard started to do compressions on the little boy’s chest when he knew that the situation has become bad, doing CPR to try to save the life of the drowned kid while others dialled 911. When the adults started to reach him and asked if he needed help, the lifeguard looked at them in the eye and said yes! For that, the respect of the boy only grew bigger for the lifeguard, he gave him a huge kudos.

The lifeguard may have been frightened and felt out of your league in the situation, but he was willing to accept help from those who could give it. He was a brave soul with the courage to accept that he cannot do it alone and accept the other people’s help in order to save the life of the drowned kid.

Moments later, help has arrived and the area was cleared to give space for the professionals to do their job properly. The lifeguard was with them, ready to provide assistance when needed. He appears to be shaken as anyone would be for in that moment, the lifeguard was the one responsible for the life of the drowned little kid.

The boy is very much proud of the heroics the lifeguard did during that day. Had he been a few seconds later, the story would have ended quite differently, something that is not very good. The lifeguard is very respondent, alert, and aware of what was going on in the water, responsible of watching over the lives of many people swimming in the beach guessing at about a hundred kids and adults in there. It might have been the very first rescue of the lifeguard but it did not matter for what he did was very heroic and for that, the boy that saw the entire episode was very much in awe and applauded him afar.

The little boy believed that some lifeguard follow certain protocols in situations just like this but because of the quick response and action of the lifeguard, a little boy and his family are together and happy today.

How to Save A Life or Two

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, also known as the (CPR), is a very important and useful lifesaving technique that every lifeguard should learn and master. The reason behind this is that it is the fastest and most efficient way of saving a drowned person be it in the beach, swimming pool, or in any body of water that any person may be likely found on. CPR is the most basic technique in every first aid and emergency protocol for the lifeguard and it is very easy to learn, even an amateur swimmer can learn the basics and perform this lifesaving technique to save another life.

By pumping the chest of drowned person and doing mouth to mouth resuscitations, a person is already doing what can be called as a CPR. It is a very useful and wonderful technique. Just the thought of being able to save and prolong the life of a drowned person using this very simple technique is quite an amazing feat for anyone performing the said technique. One does not need to be a very good swimmer to be able to save the life of a drowning or a drowned person. The basics of this amazing technique is enough to make a difference.

Learning this amazing technique is very useful also for the family. At least one member of the family should be able to learn this in case of emergencies during family vacations on the beach, lakes, and even in the pools. One does not need to be very good to be able to save the life of a drowning person. With the basics of this amazing technique, the person performing this incredible technique will be able to save a life.

Saving the life of a drowning person is very easy if one knows the basics of this technique. It is as easy as one, two, and three. One, which is to be in position ready to perform the said technique. Two, perform the pumping of the chest and the giving of oxygen to the drowned victim. And three, to continue on doing step two until the victim is revived. After a while, the drowned victim will be revived and okay. The steps is saving the life of a drowned or drowning person with the use of this very useful technique is very good and very easy. It is amazing how this very basic and simple technique can save the life of another one.

Everyone should learn how to use this technique. Not only because it can save a life, it is also because, this technique can also bring the person and introduce him/her to other persons in their lives. They will be able meet new persons in their lives with the use of this technique and can even meet new friends in life. Not only will they be able to save a life with this amazing technique, their lives can also change for they will be able to meet new friends and, in turn, their lives will also change.

Is it Helpful to have AED Management Knowledge?

When you are faced with life and death situation, would it be helpful if you have some knowledge about AED management especially in the workplace?

AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and its management means you know how to operate one in times of need or emergencies.

We all know how devastating it is to watch someone we know die of sudden cardiac arrest and we all know that this can occur without some sort of warning at all. However, it is more devastating to know that we could have prevented it from happening if: one, we are trained with CPR or we have access to AEDs and yet we don’t know how to manage it. Unfortunately, AED management is not something we talk on ordinary days – in fact only a few talks about it at all.

Some Facts

Sudden cardiac arrest – regardless of age – can be prevented if bystanders like you are:

  • In the right frame of mind to call the local emergency hotline without any delay and be able to relay the information well so that the response team would have a slightest idea on what to expect on scene without panicking.
  • Knowledgeable on doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and performing it without any hesitation on the patient.
  • Skilled on operating or managing an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

These are by no means any joke – and it is not just like what you can watch in the TVs. In fact, it is not as fancy and as grandiose as those that you see on TV. Sometimes, when you are faced with the life and death situation your body seemed like in a trance or on autopilot.

However, this could have some drawbacks because sometimes even when you’re on autopilot – you are frozen as if your mind cannot take all that is happening around it. With a simple knowledge on AED management, you can actually save a lot of life and prevent the devastating effect of losing someone over a preventable cardiac arrest.

AEDs are those portable medical devices that are especially created to recognize and treat any potentially fatal dysfunctions in heart rhythm during the event of cardiac arrest. Just like what you see in TV shows or movies or in hospitals, these devices deliver electrical shock – which is termed as defibrillation – that can give your heart a kick start of functioning again and establish its normal heart beat, rate and rhythm.

Why are AEDs Necessary?

Basically, early defibrillation – just like CPR – is one of the critical steps when dealing with emergencies because it restores normal rhythm and rate of the heartbeat. This means that when the restoration is successful, the body can deliver the much needed oxygen to areas where it is needed. Also, a minute of delay would mean reducing the chance of the patient’s survival by 10%, which is a significant number considering the current trend.

Therefore, if you want to save lives or you live in workplaces where you can gain access to AEDs – it would be better if you obtain knowledge on how to operate it so as not to waste the usefulness of the device.

Achieving Confidence by doing CPR Training

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, popularly known as CPR, is a technique used to save lives not only by paramedics and medical professionals but also by people who have received CPR training. This is done in cases such as heart attacks or near drowning situations wherein the technique may prove extremely useful especially when the person’s breathing or heartbeat has already ceased.

It is therefore recommended that the general population – even bystanders – should be aware of this technique and get CPR training in order to enhance survival of patients who are minutes away from the hospital and need immediate resuscitation prior to the arrival of paramedics on site.

In the light of emergency events, it is better that you do something instead of nothing just because you’re afraid that your knowledge and skills are not adequate and complete. However, there is a big difference between “trying” to save someone’s life than looking and not doing anything at all. The “something” that you do may be the only thing that will save this person’s life. Isn’t it amazing to know that you were able to save someone despite not being confident of your resuscitating skills?

Now, if this is what motivates you, how about getting yourself a formal CPR training?

Here’s some basic information about CPR that you might be interested in knowing before you actually go on formal training:

  • If you are an untrained person, the best approach would be hands-only CPR, which means you do continuous chest compressions that will go at about 100 per minute until the formally trained personnel arrive on scene. There is no need to do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or “rescue breathing” in this scenario.
  • If you have undergone training before and are confident that you can do the technique extremely well, you can start by doing chest compression instead of doing the SOP airway checking and do rescue breathing. Your chest compressions must go at about 30 compressions before you check the airway or do rescue breathing.
  • If you have undergone training but is unsure if you still remembered the correct process, you can start immediately with 100 chest compressions per minute similar to when you are untrained.

You have to know, however, that the above advice must not be done to newborns since they have specialized technique of resuscitation meant only for them.

These are just basic information regarding CPR that you can expect on getting in detail during formal training. There are a lot of agencies or organizations that will help you understand the basics and will allow you to do hands-on training on dummy so that you will know whether what you learned is right.

These organizations or agencies will have training personnel who will assist you every step of the way from the very beginning of the workshop until you achieve confidence in your skills. These training personnel will help you understand the importance of CPR and why it can save life. So, if you have the strong sense of duty towards other people and those that matter to you, have yourself trained with CPR and save lives.