We all have been familiar with how powerful CPR can be to save a life! There are no second thoughts on effectiveness of CPR. Can you only perform CPR when you’re well trained by highly professionals only? Well it is best practice to do so if you wish to get certified or get it for your professional career ahead. But let’s assume you are non-professional person and does not require any certificate for a job, still CPR is must learn skill for every individual. CPR is easy to learn and require basic steps only if you’re not looking for something highly professional.
We have listed some most essential steps for CPR that everyone should know! You never when you can be able to save a person’s life in no time. CPR can do wonders for someone dying of cardiac arrest laying on the road, if performed accurately. For basic steps you don’t need to have a proper class room training class if you wish to save lives. It all depends on a person’s will to do so. Even if you’re a non-professional you can follow along with these steps to stabilize a patient right in front of your eyes.
How CPR works?
So many people doubt the effectiveness of CPR. We will dig deep into how CPR works usually when a person’s heart stops beating, they are in cardiac arrest. During a cardiac arrest, the heart cannot pump blood to the rest of the body, including the brain and lungs. Death can occur in minutes without treatment.CPR allows you to do chest compressions to help the heart pumps. These compressions help us keep blood flowing throughout the body. Mostly people assume that the cardiac arrest is same as a heart attack but it is not true. A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart is blocked. And a person having a heart attack is still talking and breathing. He does not need CPR, but they do need to get to the hospital right away. But heart attack increases the risk for going into cardiac arrest. High-quality CPR can double or triple an adult’s chance of survival. However, CPR need to be performed right away, time is of the essential and you need to act quickly. If you delay CPR, 4-5 minutes without oxygen and the patient will suffer from permanent brain damage. And after 8-10 minutes in most cases, the person can die. Almost 90% of cardiac arrest patients die because no one performed CPR right away.
What you should keep in mind before CPR/First aid or AED?
Every single skill is significant for us you can never go wrong for opting for CPR and AED classes. What you need to ensure is your safety first. Make sure that the person you’re giving CPR is not surrounded by electrocution, poison gas, or something else that may pose a threat to you, you will be unable to directly engage the person.
After making sure the scene is safe, check if the patient can respond by tapping them on the shoulder and shouting “Are you okay?” If they don’t respond, activate the EMS by asking someone to call 911 and bring back an AED. If you’re alone you can call for help to tackle worst situation. But do make sure your surrounding is safe.
1. Make sure that the surrounding is clear
Before starting CPR make sure your environment is absolutely clear. Make sure that the patient is not exposed by electrical wires, weapons, guns, air contamination, and other deadly or pointy objects. It is very important to clear the surrounding before getting started with CPR. Double check that all these harmful objects are out of the way to ensure everyone’s safety, including you.
2. Check if the person is unconscious by tapping or shouting at him or her
After making sure that the surrounding is clear, check if the victim is conscious or unconscious by tapping on the shoulder or yelling. Do check for breathing and pulse before starting CPR. If you see that the person is unresponsive, call for help. Ask a bystander to call for an ambulance and another one to get an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) .
3. Position your hand
In meanwhile you can start with basic CPR. The first step is to make sure the position of your hands is accurate. You don’t crack his bones to make his condition worse. Do make sure that the patient is lying on his back on a firm surface. Kneel beside him and place the heel of your hand on the center of the chest.
4. Interlock fingers
After that try to keep your arms straight, cover the first hand with the heel of your other hand and interlock the fingers of both hands together. Make sure you keep your fingers raised so they do not touch the patient’s chest or rib cage.
5. Give chest compressions
Next step is to lean forward so that your shoulders are directly over the patient’s chest and press down on the chest about two inches. Now slowly release the pressure, but not your hands, and wait till the chest come back up.
Repeat the process to give 30 compressions at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. Until you see any improvement.
6. Open the airway
Firmly move the patient’s head to open airway. Tilt his head and lift his chin to open the airway again. Let his mouth fall open slightly to allow him to breath.
7. Give rescue breaths
Prepare to give rescue breath if possible, to do so pinch the nostrils closed with the hand that was on the forehead and support the patient’s chin with your other hand. Then take a normal breath, put your mouth over the patient’s, and blow until you can see his chest rise.
8. Let chest fall. Slowly remove your mouth from the patient’s and look along the chest, watching the chest fall. Repeat the process if needed.
9. Use an AED if require
Observe the patient carefully if the victim has weak to no pulse, using the AED becomes mandatory for you. What is the purpose of AED? Well the AED analyzes heart rhythm and then delivers an electrical shock to restore the person’s heartbeat. The device is easy to use and anyone can follow along the instruction if needed. You can also call 911 to help you figure out how to use AED.
10. If needed repeat chest compressions and rescue breaths. Place your hands on the chest again and repeat the cycle of 30 chest compressions, followed by two rescue breaths. Continue the cycle.
