Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Feb 25
Posted: under about.
Tags: Adult CPR, Child CPR, CPR, Infint CPR
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Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Will you be able to help a heart attack or drowning victim? Here are a few tips on what to do and how to do CPR.
Remember SAFETY first, don’t become a victim. Stay away from potential hazards; it is not going to help if you try to rescue a swimmer if you can’t swim.
Buy a mouth piece and always have it in your purse or pocket. You can buy one from your chemist or at a first aid supply store.
The best is to do a first aid course.
Adult CPR
- Attempt to wake the victim. Briskly rub your knuckles against the victim’s chest. If the victim does not respond, call for help, then proceed with the next point, if the victim wakes, moans, or moves, then CPR is not necessary at this time. Phone a ambulance if the victim is confused or not able to speak.
- Begin rescue breathing. Open the victim’s airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift method. Put your ear to the victim’s open mouth:
- look for chest movement
- listen for air flowing through the mouth or nose
- feel for air on your cheek
If there is no breathing, pinch the victim’s nose; make a seal over the victim’s mouth with yours. Use a CPR mask if available. Give the victim a breath big enough to make the chest rise. Let the chest fall, and then repeat the rescue breath once more.
- Begin chest compressions. Place the heel of your hand in the middle of the victim’s chest. Put your other hand on top of the first with your fingers interlaced. Compress the chest about 4-5 cm. Allow the chest to completely recoil before the next compression. Compress the chest at a rate equal to 100/minute. Perform 30 compressions at this rate.
- Repeat rescue breaths. Open the airway with head-tilt, chin-lift again. This time, go directly to rescue breaths without checking for breathing again. Give one breath, making sure the chest rises and falls, then give another
- Perform 30 more chest compressions. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for about two minutes
- Stop compressions and recheck victim for breathing. If the victim is not breathing, continue chest compressions and rescue breaths
- Keep going until help arrives
NB!!!! Chest compressions are extremely important. If you are not comfortable giving rescue breaths, still perform chest compressions!
It’s normal to feel pops and snaps when you first begin chest compressions - DON’T STOP! You aren’t going to make the victim any worse. Cardiac arrest is as bad as it gets.
When performing chest compressions, do not let your hands bounce. Let the chest fully recoil, but keep the heel of your hand in contact with the sternum at all times.
Infant CPR
- Stay Safe
Children may be infected with contagious diseases. If you are concerned about possible exposure to contagious disease, wear a mouth piece - Try to wake the infant
Babies respond well having the soles of their feet rubbed or tapped. For infants more than 2 months old, tap their shoulder or chest. In either case, call out his name in a loud voice. Don’t hurt the baby but be aggressive; you’re trying to wake him up. If the infant does not wake up, have someone call an ambulance immediately. If no one else is available to call for help, continue to step 3 and do CPR for about 2 minutes before calling an ambulance. - Open the airway and check for breathing
Put the baby on a flat, hard surface like a table or the floor. Tilt the infant’s head back a little to open the airway. Put an ear to the baby’s mouth and listen for breathing sounds. While listening, watch the chest to see if it’s rising and falling. If you don’t see or hear any signs of breathing, go to step 4 immediately. If the baby is breathing, then call for help immediately if no one else has already done it. If the baby vomits, turn him to the side to keep him from choking on the vomit. If the baby stops breathing, go to step 4. - Give the baby two breaths
If the baby is not breathing, give him two breaths. Cover the baby’s entire mouth and nose with your mouth and gently blow until you see his or her chest rise. Let the air escape — the chest will go back down — and give one more breath. If no air goes in when you try to blow, adjust the baby’s head and try again. If that doesn’t work, then go to step 5. - Begin chest compressions
Put two fingers on the breastbone directly between the baby’s nipples. Push straight down about 2.5cm and then let the chest all the way back up. Do that 30 times, about twice per second.
After 30 pushes on the chest, give the baby two more rescue breaths (as described in step 4). Keep going — 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths — for about two minutes. If you still haven’t called for an ambulance yet, do it now. Keep doing 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths until the baby starts breathing on his own, or until help arrives.
Tips:
- 1. When checking for breathing, if you’re not sure then assume the baby isn’t breathing. It’s much worse to assume a baby is breathing and not do anything than to assume he or she isn’t and start rescue breaths.
- 2. When giving rescue breaths, using a CPR mask helps with making a proper seal and keeps vomit out of the rescuer’s mouth.
- 3. Put a book under the baby’s shoulders — if you have time — to help keep his head tilted back.
- 4. When asking someone else to call an ambulance, make sure you tell them why they are calling. If not, they may not tell the dispatcher exactly what’s going on. If the dispatcher knows the baby isn’t breathing or responding, the dispatcher may be able to give you instructions to help
Children 1 to 8 years CPR
- 1. Stay Safe
Children may be infected with contagious diseases. If you are concerned about possible exposure to contagious disease, wear a mouth piece - 2. Try to Wake the Child
Gently tap or shake the child’s shoulders and call out his or her name in a loud voice. Don’t hurt the child, but be aggressive — you’re trying to wake them up. If the child does not wake up, have someone call an ambulance immediately. If no one else is available to call for help, continue to step 3 and do CPR for about 2 minutes before calling 911. - 3. Open the Airway and Check for Breathing
Put the child on a flat, hard surface, such as a table or the floor. Tilt the child’s head back a little to open the airway. Put an ear to the child’s mouth and listen for breathing sounds. While listening, watch the chest to see if it’s rising and falling. If you don’t see or hear any signs of breathing, go to step 4 immediately. If the child is breathing, then phone an ambulance immediately if no one else has already done so. If the child vomits, turn the child to the side to keep him or her from choking on the vomit. If the child stops breathing, go to step 4. - 4. Give the Child Two Breaths
If the child is not breathing, give him or her two breaths. Cover the child’s mouth with yours, and pinch his or her nose closed with your hand. Gently blow until you see his or her chest rise. Let the air escape; the chest will go back down. Then give one more breath. If no air goes in when you try to blow, adjust the child’s head and try again. If that doesn’t work, then go to step 5. - 5. Begin Chest Compressions
Put the heal of one of your hands on the child’s breast bone (directly between the child’s nipples). Push straight down about 3-4 cm, then let the chest retract all the way back up. Do that 30 times, about twice per second.
After 30 pushes on the chest, give the child two more rescue breaths (as described in step 4). Keep going — 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths — for about two minutes. If you still haven’t called for an ambulance yet, do it now. Keep doing 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths until the child starts breathing on his or her own, or until help arrives.
Tips:
- 1. When checking for breathing, if you’re not sure then assume the child isn’t breathing. It’s much worse to assume a kid is breathing and not do anything than to assume he or she isn’t and start rescue breaths.
- 2. When giving rescue breaths, using a CPR mask helps with making a proper seal and keeps vomit out of the rescuer’s mouth.
- 3. Put a book under the child’s shoulders — if you have time — to help keep his or her head tilted back.
- 4. When asking someone else to call an ambulance, make sure you tell them why they are calling. If not, they may not tell the dispatcher exactly what’s going on. If the dispatcher knows a child isn’t breathing or responding, the dispatcher may be able to give you instructions to help. If you phone an ambulance, be calm and listen carefully.
Reference:
2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2005 Dec 13;112(24 Suppl):IV1-203. Epub 2005 Nov 28
Resource:
http://firstaid.about.com/od/cpr/ht/06_cpr.htm
