CPR may be helpful for cardiac arrest victims, but many witnesses of cardiac arrest do not administer it. Learn CPR so that you can be ready.
When should I use CPR? What is it?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure that can help save a person’s life if their breathing or heart stops. A person is in cardiac arrest when their heart stops beating. During cardiac arrest, the heart is unable to pump blood to the brain and lungs as well as the rest of the body. Death can happen in a matter of minutes without medical attention. 1 CPR imitates the heart’s pumping action by using chest compressions. The body’s normal blood circulation is supported by these compressions.
Children as young as nine can perform CPR successfully: According to Ziqitza, someone must be able to perform compressions in order to perform CPR effectively. Children as young as nine years old may have the strength to administer CPR or support an adult. And others might not.
The more people who are trained in CPR, the better; therefore, if you have a tween or older who wants to learn CPR, now would be a great time for them to do so.
Ziqitza Rajasthan emphasizes that as kids get older, they find themselves in more situations without an adult present. So being able to perform CPR could save the life of a friend anywhere—at a beach, pool, party, camping trip, hike, etc.
CPR Can Be Done Without Formal Training: According to Ziqitza Limited, education is necessary but not a special certification or formal training to perform CPR. Don’t be afraid if someone close to you experiences cardiac arrest; just be ready! If you see someone having a cardiac arrest, take these actions:
Call emergency helpline number immediately: Save time by asking a nearby bystander to call an ambulance and search for an automated external defibrillator (AED) while you start performing CPR. AEDs are portable devices that can shock the heart electrically to re-establish heartbeat.
Offer CPR: 100 to 120 pushes should be made in the centre of the chest per minute, hard and quickly. After each push, allow the chest to rise to its normal position. This type of CPR is known as “hands-only” because it does not involve breathing into the person’s mouth.
Continue giving CPR: Until medical professionals arrive or until a person with formal CPR training can take over.
Time is of Essence: According to ZHL Rajasthan, every minute a person goes without CPR reduces their chances of full recovery by around 10%. When someone’s heart stops, waiting for an ambulance is not a life-saving move. The following information about CPR will strengthen the case.
CPR is useful for more than just cardiac arrest: When you learn CPR, you will also learn how to manage airways, assist someone who is choking, and deal with a traumatic injury. CPR can save a drowned child or a 20-something who has overdosed on heroin. These are only a few examples. CPR skills are useful in a variety of situations.
Some CPR courses may also cover first aid training for situations such as, chemical exposure, extreme weather exposure, bee stings, anaphylaxis, loss of blood, and sanitizing a wound.
A heart attack and a cardiac arrest are not the same thing: A heart attack, according to Ziqitza HealthCare, is a sudden blockage of blood flow to the heart. Pain, numbness, and weakness are common symptoms. A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating because the electrical signals in the heart cease to “fire.” A heart attack, but also drowning, a bad shock, a worsening health condition, suffocation, or a heart defect, can cause cardiac arrest.
Brain Damage Happens Faster Than You Think: According to Ziqitza Limited Rajasthan, brain damage is imminent if the heart is not restarted. Under normal conditions, the timelines look like this:
- Brain damage is unlikely within the first 4 minutes of cardiac arrest.
- After 4-6 minutes, the person may suffer permanent brain damage.
- 6-10 minutes, the person will most likely suffer some brain damage.
- 10+ minutes, there is a good chance of severe brain damage.
Even if you have doubts about whether CPR will be effective, you should still perform it: According to Ziqitza HealthCare, 40% of people don’t feel confident in their ability to perform CPR. One in ten respondents claimed that their lack of skill would prevent them from giving CPR to a friend or family member.
It’s best to perform CPR even if you’re not sure it will work if a person has stopped breathing because it can mean the difference between life and death in that situation. Although it doesn’t guarantee survival, CPR increases the likelihood.