Posted On Dec 04, 2021
Manipal Hospitals
What is CPR?
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or CPR is a medical life-saving process to prevent the brain death of a person who has suffered a cardiac arrest until medical help arrives.
CPR is usually given when a person shows signs of no or abnormal breathing. When a person suffers a cardiac arrest or a heart attack, the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and rest of the body is restricted. If CPR is not performed on time, the person can become brain dead within 5-10 minutes. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is performed to restore partial oxygen and blood flow to the brain.
Many cardiac arrests happen outside the hospital and formal training and knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in India are necessary to save a person’s life. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation includes mouth to mouth resuscitation and chest compressions. A combination of the two helps revive the oxygen and blood flow to the organs.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Procedure
There are different cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedures for adults, children and newborn babies. It is important to follow the stabilization technique according to the set CPR standards. Before starting CPR, check if the person has any signs of not breathing or irregular breathing, unconscious or unresponsive. The acronym CAB (Compression, Airway and Breathing) is used to easily remember the cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedure.
How to perform CPR?
CPR can be performed by a trained person only. It involves external chest compressions and rescues breathing to help circulation and get oxygen into the body. The CPR comprises the following 3 steps.
Hands-only CPR for Adults
This cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedure is followed for adults and children who have attained puberty. Hands-only CPR should not be performed on a person who has had a cardiac arrest due to near-drowning, drug overdose or an unwitnessed cardiac arrest. In such cases, chest compressions and mouth to mouth resuscitation should be performed in combination BY TRAINED PERSONS ONLY.
Your first step will have to be to check the responsiveness of the person.
Chest Compressions
To be done by trained and certified persons only.
The next step will be to do chest compressions.
You must only stop if the person resumes breathing, help arrives or you are too tired to continue. Try to arrange for an ambulance with trained personnel to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) as soon as possible.
Mouth to Mouth Resuscitation
If you are trained in CPR, you will have to give 30 compressions and 2 rescue breaths (mouth to mouth resuscitation). If the person is not breathing normally, you have to ensure that they are lying on their back.
For children below the age of eight, follow the above cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedure of chest compressions, but use only one hand.
Neonatal resuscitation
In the case of infants, neonatal resuscitation is performed. Neonatal resuscitation needs to be performed delicately and with the utmost care by persons trained in handling neonatal resuscitation. Use only 2 fingers for chest compressions. Place the infant on their back and use mouth to mouth resuscitation (the head need not be tilted). Make sure there are only small breaths.