Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

A technique used to save lives, the CPR is mainly applied during emergencies on a person whose breathing or heartbeat has temporarily stopped usually due to a heart attack or drowning. This technique is by far the best way one can save someone’s life in an emergency situation when medical help is not available at hand.

 
It can be performed by anyone present at the time of the emergency, trained or untrained bystanders.

 
CPR helps the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and other vital organs and restores the normal heart rhythm. After the heart stops, there is only a time crunch of about 8-10 minutes until the person stops responding, because the lack of oxygenated blood could lead to brain damage and ultimately death. 

To begin one must analyze the surroundings and make sure that they are safe for the patient, see if the person is conscious or not and if they are then ask them if they’re ok. If the person doesn’t respond, one must begin giving CPR. 

• To begin the patient should be laid flat on his back on a firm surface.
• Kneel beside the person’s neck and shoulders.
• Place the heel of your hand on the centre of the person’s chest, while placing your other hand on top of your first hand. Keep elbows straight and shoulder aligned above your hands.
• For CPR, you should use your upper body weight with the weight of your hands as you apply chest compressions of at least 2 inches, but not greater than 2.5 inches as that can break or crack the rib cage.

The process of giving a CPR begins with chest compressions. And it can be classified into three types depending on one’s knowledge and training:

1. Untrained people: For people with absolutely no training, it is advised to use just hand-only chest compressions of 100 to 120 per minute, until some sort of medical help/professionals arrive.
2. Well-trained people: For people who are confident in their application of the procedure, the first step would be to check the pulse and breathing of the person. If there is none within 10 seconds, start giving chest compressions: two rescue breaths followed by 30 chest compressions. Rescue breaths are given by opening a person’s airway. This can be done by placing your palm on their forehead, gently tilting their head back and lifting the chin forward to open the mouth.
3. Trained but rusty: For people who have knowledge and experience but have not performed CPR for quite some time, then they just need to give chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 per minute.

CPR can save countless lives if done correctly, especially in situations when medical help is far away or inaccessible. And the good part is, it can be performed by anyone at hand.