What is CPR?
The long form of CPR is Cardiopulmonary resuscitation which is basically a technique that is used in emergency situations of heart attack or drowning. A CPR is the immediate procedure to revive a stopped heart and involves hard and fast chest compressions.
Who can administer CPR?
It is more than likely that you would have learnt techniques of CPR in your higher classes in school, or must have seen a video and learnt in online. It not, then read on as you never know when you might need to administer it to somebody in an emergency situation.
CPR can be performed by anybody who is not medically trained given that you know what’s really happening to someone in during an emergency situation and know the basics of it. Some people may be afraid to perform it, but you are advised to try it even if you are afraid which is better than not trying at all. Your actions might save a life.
How does one administer CPR?
CPR is something that you do to revive a stopped heart before the medical emergency team arrives. A heart may stop functioning due to a heart attack, or excessive intake of water due to drowning.
CPR involves 2 steps, one is rapid chest compressions and two is administer rescue breathing.
Rapid Chest Compression: For laypersons or for someone who hasn’t tried this before, it is advisable that you use the palms of your hands one above the other to push down on the chest of the victim and release. Rotate this rapidly for up to 100 to 120 times a minute. Before starting, make sure the person is lying flat on a hard surface and is in a safe environment. Kneeling next to the person is advisable. Place your palms on the center of the person’s chest between the nipples, use your entire body weight to push down and release.
Rescue Breathing: An experienced person may follow 30 pushes with 2 rescue breathing which involves kneeling next to the flatly laid down person, tilt the person’s head to open their airway and lift their chin. Then, pinch the person’s nostrils and place your mouth on the person’s mouth. Blow / breathe into the person’s mouth and observe if the person’s chest is rising if not, then repeat the chest compressions 30 times and try again.
This procedure may revive blood flow in the person and may save his or her life. Before administering CPR make sure that in neuro ortho and cardiac he is unconscious. Start the procedure if there is no response. You can also check if there is a pulse or check for a heartbeat in which case, a CPR would not be required and you can wait for the medical emergency team to arrive. In such situations, do keep monitoring the person for his pulse / heartbeat.
Timely resuscitation via CPR is the difference between life and death and can greatly increase the survival of a victim.
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