By: Engracia S. Arceo, MPH, RMT
Cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is one of the most critical emergency procedures designed to restore partial blood flow to the brain and the heart. It is done to patients who suffered from cardiac arrest. Although CPR alone is not sufficient to bring a person back to life, the procedure can delay tissue death and extend the time before brain damage occurs. While waiting for response from the medical practitioners, you should commence the CPR to help save the victim.
What are the new guidelines?
The American Heart Association updated the CPR guidelines in 2010 to stress the importance of high quality CPR. The guideline includes the need for sufficient rate and depth of compression without excessively ventilating the lungs. Still, the new guidelines adapt the different interventions for each age group. However, instead of using the acronyms, ABC for Airway, Breathing and Circulation, they recommend the CAB or Chest compressions, Airway and Breathing. The only exceptions to the new CAB guideline are infants and drowned patients.
Who Should Perform the CPR?
Previously, the CPR can only be performed by people who have special training on procedure. But with the new guidelines released by the American Heart Association, even the lay public can help save the life of victims. By doing the chest compressions alone without artificial respiration, the likelihood of success is still high compared when CPR is not commenced. With the compressions only delivery, ordinary people do not have to be passive bystanders. Instead they can become active participants in saving the life of a person.
Why is it crucial?
CPR keeps the vital organs alive. Even with artificial means, the brain and the heart maintain their supply of oxygen. Otherwise, four to seven minutes of lack of oxygen leads to irreversible damage to the brain. It is therefore crucial that the procedure must be done as early as possible to increase the chances of the vital organs to respond to other medical attempts designed to revive them.
Is it effective?
The use of CPR does not guarantee 100% success. Studies show a high correlation between the timing and the success rate of the procedure. Because the CPR is most effective before brain damage occurs, it is important that the rescuer provides the artificial treatment as soon as possible.
Cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills should not only be for the medical practitioners. It should be a natural skill of everyone. Because you will never know when to use it, it is important that you know what to do when emergency situation arises.
