CPR Information

CPR or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation can save someone's life if they have stopped breathing or have no pulse. According to the American Heart Association, "(CPR) is a combination of rescue breathing and chest compressions delivered to victims" who are under cardiac arrest or who are not breathing due to drowning or some other accident. CPR training is very important, but even if you are not trained you can save a life with chest compressions only for a person in cardiac arrest. This article will go over when to use rescue breathing and/or chest compressions.

When to use CPR

• According to the American Red Cross, "when blood flow or breathing stops, seconds count. Permanent brain damage or death can happen quickly. If you know how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), you could save a life." In any situation where you believe you will need to do CPR, the first step is calling 911 for emergency help. If you are trained in CPR you can do Chest Compressions and Rescue breathing as outlined in the next section. If you are untrained or do not feel confident in your knowledge of CPR, then it is okay to do the chest compressions, or hands only CPR. In most cases it is better to do something than nothing and you cannot be sued for doing it incorrectly. Getting trained in CPR can help you feel more confident, should you be in an emergency situation.

Rescue Breathing and Chest Compressions

• Respiratory arrest, where the person has stopped breathing, requires full CPR. According to the American Heart Association respiratory arrest can be a result of drug overdose, alcohol overdose, carbon monoxide poisoning, asthma attack, drowning, or choking. In these cases the victim is suffocating and can't get enough oxygen, and this can lead to cardiac arrest. When the person is not breathing you will need to give both mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions.

  Steps for CPR from the American Red Cross are:
  Call for Emergency Help
  Open Airway by tipping head back (check for blocked airway-remove blockage)
  Give 2 rescue breaths
  Chest compressions -30 times
  Give 2 rescue breaths
  Chest Compressions -30 times
  Continue until emergency help arrives.

  A rescue breath is best given if you have a face mask. You can purchase a facemask to carry in your purse or car at most drugstores. Both the nose and the mouth need to be covered when doing a rescue breath.

Cardiac Arrest

• Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops pumping. If you understand CPR you can help get the blood pumping again with chest compressions. Call for Emergency Help (911) and then check the victims breathing and pulse.

  According to the American Heart Association when you call for emergency help; the dispatcher will be able to give you over the phone instructions on how to do chest compressions. Starting chest compressions can keep the blood flowing through the victim's body and to his brain, until paramedics arrive.

  Chest Compressions and no mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing have saved lives because studies by the American Heart Association indicate that more people are willing to perform CPR with out mouth contact rescue breathing.

Chest Compressions

• The following steps for chest compressions were taken directly from the American Heart Association:

  Find the center of the chest and do forceful, fast compressions.

  Lift hands slightly off chest after each compression.

  You continue to do chest compressions until emergency medical help arrives.

Take a CPR Class

• Taking a CPR class can be one of the best things you can do to be prepared to save someone's life. Find a CPR class near you by clicking on the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association link below.