Save A Life: Learn CPR
A few weeks ago, millions of people watched as Damar Hamlin collapsed on the football field during a Monday night game. He suffered cardiac arrest after what seemed like a very benign hit. His heart had stopped beating normally. He was immediately surrounded by team trainers and medical staff as they waited for an ambulance to arrive. Damar is alive today because his athletic trainer performed a life-saving technique called CPR.
Everyone should learn the basics of CPR. It’s especially important when medical help isn’t close by. Let’s dive into CPR and how it’s executed.
What is CPR?
CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a technique used during an emergency when someone’s heart or breathing has stopped. It involves fast and hard chest compressions. The goal of CPR is to keep blood flowing throughout the body, especially the brain, until the heart or breathing can be restarted. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), CPR that’s performed immediately can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.
When is CPR used?
You should perform CPR on another person if they collapse and aren’t responding to you, aren’t breathing, or you can’t feel their pulse. It’s important to recognize cardiac arrest quickly. The sooner CPR is started, the better the chances of survival.
How to perform CPR
Anyone can, and should, perform CPR. Even though it’s highly recommended you take a course and get your certification, you don’t have to in order to perform CPR. For anyone looking for a class, I’ll link some options below. Now, I’m not qualified to teach you how to perform CPR but I can list the basic concepts. If you’re unsure of what CPR should look like, you can look up videos online which will help you better understand the proper techniques. There are first aid CPR kits available which contain masks with filtered valves to prevent cross contamination. If you’re concerned about the legal aspects of performing CPR when you’re not certified, don’t fret. Good Samaritan laws protect you when you assist someone medically in good faith.
Untrained in CPR – Don’t worry about giving breaths, focus on chest compressions. This is called hands-only CPR. You want to give uninterrupted chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute.
Trained in CPR – if you’re trained in CPR, remember the 30:2 ratio. After checking for breathing and a pulse, perform 30 chest compressions followed by giving 2 breaths.
Before starting CPR, assess the situation and make sure the scene is safe. You are of no help to anyone else if you become injured yourself. Next, call 911!!! Make sure you don’t forget this step -CPR is only a bridge to help someone survive until medical help can arrive.
Here are the steps to performing compression only CPR on anyone over 1 year old:
Place the person on a flat, hard surface (the floor is best) on their back.
Check for a pulse or breathing.
If no pulse or breath is found, perform chest compressions. Place hands one on top of the other in the middle of the chest, right under their nipples.
Keeping your arms straight, use the weight of your body to forcefully push down on the chest using the heel of your hand.
Continue to push on the chest at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute. You’ll want to push down about 2 inched each time to make the compression effective. Allow their chest to come all the way back up between each compression.
If you’re trained in CPR: after 30 compressions, give 2 rescue breaths.
CPR looks a little different in kids under 1 year old. Follow these steps to perform CPR on a baby 4 weeks old to 1 year:
Place the baby on a firm flat surface like a table or floor.
Check for a pulse and breathing.
If no pulse or breath is found, perform chest compressions using two fingers. Place two fingers of one hand on the middle of baby’s chest, just below the nipples.
Gently compress the chest about 1.5 inches
Continue to push at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute.
If you’re trained in CPR: after 30 compressions, give 2 breaths. If 2 people are performing CPR, give 2 breaths after 15 compressions.
The AHA stresses that the 2 most important steps to saving a life are calling 911 and performing chest compressions.
What does high-quality CPR mean?
High quality CPR involves breaths as well as chest compressions and is typically performed by healthcare professionals or those trained in CPR. High quality CPR can save more lives if performed correctly. There are 5 main components to high-quality CPR:
Minimal interruptions in chest compressions
Compressions are of proper rate and depth
Don’t lean on victim between compressions
Proper hand placement
Avoid excessive ventilation (giving too much breath can inflate the chest cavity and not allow blood to return to the heart properly)
What is an AED?
An AED is an automated external defibrillator. During cardiac arrest, an AED can check for heart rhythm and then provide a shock to restart the heart. AED’s are commonly available so we’re seeing them more and more in public spaces and work places. They aren’t cheap, but if you can afford one for your boat, do it. CPR will not typically restart someone’s heart, but an AED can. An AED increases your chances of survival when used alongside of CPR.
How to use an AED
Each AED will be slightly different but the concepts are the same. Because non-medical persons can use an AED, each one will talk you through the directions and tell you if, and when, to administer a shock.
Start CPR until an AED becomes available
Once AED arrives, turn it on and follow the prompts
Remove clothing and apply the shock pads according to the diagram in the AED. If the person is small and the pads will touch, apply one in the middle of the chest and the other on the back between the shoulder blades.
Make sure the pads are connected to the AED.
When the AED is ready to analyze, stop CPR and make sure no one is touching the victim. Let the AED analyze heart rhythm.
The AED will tell you if a shock is needed. Stand clear of the patient and make sure no one is touching them or else they’ll be shocked as well. Yell “CLEAR” loudly before pushing the shock button.
Push the shock button
If no shock is indicated or after one is given, immediately resume chest compressions.
How to find a CPR course near me
If you’d like to become CPR certified, there are many options available for both in-person and online courses. The American Heart Association and Red Cross are both great resources for class offerings. They have many first-aid class options, depending on your needs, and you can purchase at-home kits to practice your technique. AED’s are also available for you to buy if you’d like to have one with your first aid kit.