CPR is cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a lifesaving technique that can help when a person’s breathing or heart stops. CPR involves chest compressions to replace how the heart pumps. These lifesaving compressions keep blood flowing throughout the body.
The difference between cardiac arrest and heart attack.
Heart attacks occur when blood flow to the heart is blocked. In this case, a person having a heart attack can still speak and breathe. CPR is unnecessary, but they do need to get to the hospital right away. However, a heart attack does increase the risk of going into cardiac arrest.
When a person’s heart stops, they are in cardiac arrest. In cardiac arrest, the heart cannot pump blood to the rest of the body, including the brain and lungs. Death can happen within minutes without treatment.
CPR Does Not Require Training.
Omnibus Home Healthcare recommends becoming trained in CPR, although you don’t need formal training to perform CPR. Don’t be afraid to perform CPR if someone near you goes into cardiac arrest. However, it is crucial to know what you should do. The worst thing to do in a situation that requires CPR is to do nothing at all. Follow these steps if you see someone in cardiac arrest:
- Call 9-1-1 immediately. Ask a bystander to call for you to start administering CPR right away. The sooner, the better.
- Give CPR. Push down hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100 to 120 pushes a minute. Let the chest come back up to its normal position after each push. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends timing your pushes to the beat of the song “Stayin’ Alive.” This method of CPR is called “hands-only” and does not involve breathing into the person’s mouth.
- Continue CPR until medical professionals arrive or a person with formal CPR training can take over.
If you want to become trained or certified in performing CPR, consider taking a class – it is a lifesaving ability that you will never regret learning. For more information about the hands-only method of CPR click this link from the American Heart Association.
*The information given in this blog is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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AHA: https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/what-is-cpr
https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/cpr.htm