CPR is a lifesaving medical procedure useful in many emergencies. It is given to people who are in cardiac arrest and someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. CPR helps to pump blood in patient’s heart when his heart cannot pump blood properly. Immediate CPR can double or triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest.
Before starting CPR, check if the environment is safe for the person. Check person is conscious or unconscious. If he is unconscious tap on his shoulder and ask loudly “Are you ok”? if the person is unconscious, first call 911 then start performing CPR.
Compressions: Restore blood circulation:
2. Place the heel of one hand on the centre of the person's chest. Place other hand on top of the first hand and interlock your fingers.
3. Position your shoulders and yourself directly above your hands.
4. Using upper body weight, push straight down on the chest 5-6 cm. Push at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions a minute.
5. If you are not trained in CPR, continue chest compressions until emergency medical personnel take over. If you trained in CPR, then perform airway opening and rescue breathing.
Open the airway:
After completing 30 chest compressions, open patient’s airway by tilting the head back with the palm of one hand and gently lift the chin forward with other hand to open the airway.
Breathing:
Rescue breathing – perform mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose or mouth-to-mask, and mouth-to-stoma in rare cases.
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Disclaimer: Don’t follow any suggestions in this article without consulting a qualified doctor
Sources: 1. “Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): First aid” https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-cpr/basics/art-20056600
2.” CPR – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation” https://www.nationalcprfoundation.com/courses/standard-cpr-aed-first-aid/adult/