Hands On CPR Training, New Guidelines, Learn The Basic Steps
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I was talking with a friend the other day and she said "give me the steps of cpr". She knew that I had just taken a training class through the American Heart Association at work. We were taught the new hands-only cpr method. Unfortunately for us this training came a bit late. We lost a beloved co-worker the month before to a cardiac arrest at work. Our personnel manager valiantly gave our friend conventional cpr, but to no avail.
The steps to cpr are much easier now using the hands-only technique, and this technique is said to save more lives than mouth-to-mouth. In a medical journal called Circulation there was a study released that showed that mouth-to-mouth cardiopulmonary resuscitation had no real advantage over chest compressions only. What the study showed was that hands-only, the use of fast and hard chest compressions saved more lives.
One of the reasons is that it's so easy to perform. I know that years ago when I received cpr certification using the conventional American Heart Association guidelines we were taught to give mouth-to-mouth breaths along with chest compressions. I also remember the ensuing conversations and questions afterwards about whether or not we could possibly give cpr using mouth-to- mouth to strangers. I thought if every adult carried what is called a bio-barrier face shield it would be one thing, but the thought of putting lips on a stranger is daunting. I wondered during that class why we weren't each given a face shield when we got our cpr training and received our certifications.
I remember many years ago when my father came home and said guys where he worked were "dropping over like flies" from heart attacks. Shortly thereafter they also had cpr training given at work. Remember, this training isn't only to help you save strangers, this training could help you save the life of a loved one, literally. It's estimated that three-quarters of the cardiac arrests that occur outside of a hospital occur in the home. We all thought that was a very surprising statistic. Another surprising statistic is that only 6% of those who suffer a cardiac arrest outside of the hospital survive.
The entire medical community hopes with the hands-only method of cpr more bystanders will start cpr. There really isn't any way that you can hurt an adult performing hands-only cpr. Doing nothing assures a victim will die. About 1/3 of patients that receive hands only cpr have broken or cracked ribs. Don't worry about cracked or broken ribs. Just pump!
So, when my friend said give me the steps of cpr this is what I told her; try to awaken the victim. If you can't waken the victim call 911. Start chest compressions. Place the heel of your hand on the victims chest between the nipples. Put your other hand on top and interlace your fingers. Press down straight and hard so that you compress the chest 1 1/2 to 2 inches. Don't worry about feeling pops, or hearing cracks when you compress. And most importantly, don't stop until help arrives.
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