When someone collapses and is in cardiac arrest, you must administer CPR immediately. Fortunately, the American Heart Association has released new guidelines that make it more likely that people will step in and administer CPR in the event of an emergency. Using the correct CPR technique can double or triple the chances of survival in the event of cardiac arrest.
Breathing
Administering CPR to adult victims of cardiac arrest is different than administering CPR to children who have collapsed. It is crucial to remember that fact when attempting to save the life of a child.
When an adult collapses, their cardiac arrest is usually caused by some sort of malfunction with the heart. When a child collapses, it is usually due to breathing problems. If an adult suffers from cardiac arrest due to drowning, drug overdose or carbon monoxide poisoning, they will need the same CPR techniques that you will use for children.
For children or adults who have suffered trauma due to oxygen deprivation, administer CPR by doing 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths and repeat. The chest compressions should be done very fast--at the rate of 100 compressions per minute.
Chest Compressions
Adults who have suffered from sudden cardiac arrest and who didn't suffer from any event that deprived them of oxygen may be treated without CPR breathing. Administer chest compressions by pushing hard on the chest at the same rate as mentioned above: 100 compressions per minute.
Usually adults who have suffered cardiac arrest will gasp for air occasionally during CPR; this allows them to get oxygen. Regardless, they often still have enough air in their lungs and blood to get them through a few minutes of CPR before someone can use a defibrillator on them.
If you see someone collapse, call 911 or have someone call for you and immediately start CPR. Put the victim on their back and clear their airway. When performing chest compressions, put one hand on top of the other in the middle of the victim's chest and press firmly and quickly. It can be exhausting to do the compressions, so if there is someone else present who can help, take turns doing compressions. Don't stop doing chest compressions until the paramedics are able to take over.
Consider getting CPR-certified so that you are prepared in the event of an emergency. You can take classes at your local Red Cross. Ask your employer to consider bringing in someone to offer group CPR training. This benefits the workplace because there will be people present who can properly administer CPR in the event of an emergency.
Tags: cardiac arrest, chest compressions, event emergency, have suffered, administer event