Written By: Esieboma Oghenerobo Joy
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life saving maneuver that increases the chances of survival, and reduces the risk of complications in health emergencies where a person has suddenly stopped breathing, lost heart function, and is unconscious; otherwise known as a cardiac arrest.
CPR is important because it ensures the supply of oxygenated blood to the brain and other vital organs before proper medical care can be given, and normal heart function is restored. The absence of oxygen from brain cells can cause damage, and lead to death, within a few minutes.
There are accredited First Aid training courses that teach how to perform CPR, and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED); it is best to take up such courses if you can. For now, here are a few steps on what to do when you have an unconscious person without a pulse:
BEFORE THE CPR
- Ensure that the environment is safe for the person; for example, CPR shouldn’t be performed on drowning victims while they’re still in the pool, or accident victims right at the spot of the accident. Move them to a clean, clear and free area.
- Ascertain whether the individual is conscious or unconscious; try shaking their shoulders and asking loudly in their ears, “Are you okay”?
- Call the toll free emergency number, or hospital emergency room; if you’re not alone, get someone to do this for you.
PERFORMING CPR
- COMPRESS: start with chest compressions. Place the person on his/her back on a firm surface, then kneel next to their neck and shoulders. Place the heel of one hand over the center of the person’s chest, and place your other hand on top of the first one. With your elbows straight and your shoulders directly above your hands, use your upper body weight to push straight down on/compress the chest by at least 5cm, and at most 6cm. Keep performing the compressions hard, with about 100-120 compressions per minute.
- AIRWAYS: untrained individuals should continue with the chest compressions until the medical team arrives. For trained individuals, after 30 compressions, tilt the person’s head and lift the chin to open the airways. This is done by placing a palm on the person’s forehead and tilting the head back, while gently lifting the chin forward.
- BREATHE: after opening the airways, rescue breathing is given either by mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose methods. When using the mouth-to-mouth mouth method, pinch the person’s nose and place your mouth over the person’s mouth, forming a seal. Breath in deeply and release the air from your lungs. Wait after the first rescue breath and watch if the person’s chest rises and falls before delivering the second rescue breath. The mouth-to-nose method is used when the person’s mouth is badly injured or unable to open. It is important not to give too many, or too forceful breaths.
After delivering two rescue breaths, continue with the chest compressions. One CPR cycle comprises thirty chest compressions and two rescue breaths.
CPR should be continued until there are signs of movement, or medical personnel take over.
The are exceptions to the procedure above; with specific changes when performing CPR for victims of drowning, children above 1 year old, and children under 1 year as well.
- In cases where a drowning occurred, CPR should start with two rescue breaths before the chest compressions.
- For children over 1 year, only one hand is needed to deliver chest compressions; unless the child is too big for chest compressions of at least 5cm to be delivered with just one hand.
- For children under 1 year, use only two fingers to deliver chest compressions and rescue breaths should be little puffs of air given with as gently as possible.
- When an AED is available, it should be used before starting chest compressions and in between them.
We hope you found this helpful. Please watch videos to get a visual idea on doing this and drop a comment below.
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