Performing CPR On An Adult Is Different Than Performing CPR On A Child
We had an unbelievable scare in our family a few years ago. During a family cook-out my father-in-law had a heart attack. Luckily my nephew is a paramedic and was able to perform adult cpr. According to the medics and doctors it's what saved my father-in-laws life.
After that my husband and I decided that we wanted adult cpr instructions. We did it for lots of reasons, but mostly because we love each other and realize having witnessed it just how cpr can save a life. We went to a class sponsored by a local hospital given by American Heart Association trainers. We learned that adult cpr instructions weren't difficult. We learned how to give adult cpr with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions.
Well, just a few weeks ago the American Heart Association came out with a new set of adult cpr instructions. It seems that the mouth-to-mouth resuscitations are out, hands-only cpr is in. When our nephew, who is a paramedic, told us about this it made sense.
It had been known in the medical community for quite some time that chest compressions done quickly and without interruption help to keep oxygenated blood flowing to vital organs. When cpr rescuers went from doing chest compressions to giving mouth-to-mouth they were not pumping on the chest for up to sixteen seconds. Way to much time to lose precious oxygen. They noticed a greater survival rate of cardiac arrest victims who received hands-only cpr.
There was also the fact that a lot of people felt they wouldn't be able to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation properly. These people worried they would "do it wrong" so, unfortunately, they didn't do it at all. Some people were put off by the aspect of performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a stranger. According to the American Heart Association the worst thing you can do when someone suffers from a cardiac arrest is nothing. Anything is better than nothing.
Adult cpr instructions using the hands-only cpr method are very easy and you can find training and instructions online. The American Heart Association has several videos showing how to administer cpr.
In a nutshell, if you can't revive the victim you want to call 911 and immediately start performing chest compressions. You want to do them quickly, at a rate of 100 per minute. You want to make sure that you compress the chest 1 1/2 to 2 inches. If there is an automatic external defibrillator in the area you want to use it after one minute of full hands-only cpr is unsuccessful.
It's estimated that 900 people a day suffer a cardiac arrest. It's also estimated that 3/4 of those who suffer a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital suffer them in their home. Learn the simple steps to life saving hands-only cpr. The life you save could be that of a loved one.
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Georgina
Posted 165 days ago
We had a very similar scare just a few months ago with my mother. We were lucky that the one person that was going to medical school was at the party. Since that day many of us have taken the cpr classes.
Pompeia Nguyen
Posted 166 days ago
It is always so much better to at least do something. If you can at least keep the chest moving until help gets there, then you at least gave the person some chance.