Why is CPR important? After all, you’re never going to find yourself in a cardiac arrest emergency. And even if you did, you would just rise to the occasion without hesitation. If only we lived in that world. Unfortunately, every year, 475,000 people die from cardiac arrest in the US alone.
CPR certification classes increase the chances of survival for cardiac arrest by at least two times. Think about how many lives we could save if everyone in our communities were CPR-certified.
This article discusses why you should care about CPR and how you can use these skills to potentially save a life. You never know when these skills will come in handy and you should always be prepared to respond in emergencies.
What Is CPR?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a lifesaving technique combining chest compressions, rescue breaths, and an AED. This technique circulates the blood and restarts the heart to a normal rhythm following a cardiac arrest event.
Why Is CPR Important?
Keeping blood flowing, even if only partially, extends someone’s chances for resuscitation when someone arrives. The more experienced and knowledgeable bystanders are, the more effective the CPR and, thus, the more likely it is for trained medical professionals to resuscitate the patient.
What Are the Steps to CPR?
Chest Compressions
Before commencing CPR, you should ensure the area is safe and the victim lies flat on their back. Then interlock your hands with the dominant hand on top of the other and place them at the bottom of the victim’s breastbone. Straighten your arms and elbows and deliver a compression at full force. Chest compressions should reach about two inches into the patient’s chest and you should repeat your compressions up to 120 times per minute.
Open the Airway
After chest compressions, open the victim’s airway. All you have to do for this step is tilt the patient’s head back and adjust their chin so the airwave can receive oxygen from the rescue breaths. If the chest doesn’t expand while delivering the breaths, you may need to reposition the victim.
Rescue Breaths
The final step of CPR entails forming an airtight seal around the victim’s mouth. After this, they must perform two rescue breaths for every thirty chest compressions. If you don’t have training in rescue breaths, you should skip this step and focus on hands-only CPR. Chest compressions alone can have the same benefits as chest compressions combined with rescue breaths.
Emergencies Occur at Both the Workplace and Home
Stats show that 70% of heart attacks occur at home. In many cases, the only people who can help are those closest to you. Because CPR is one of the only ways to respond to cardiac arrest for bystanders, having CPR knowledge during these critical times can be the difference between life and death. If the person has no pulse and they aren’t breathing, high-quality CPR becomes even more important.
Understand Why CPR Works
the blood doesn’t circulate during a cardiac arrest without CPR assistance. CPR assistance ensures the victim receives oxygen to their brain while in cardiac arrest to prevent organ death. It does this through manual circulation. CPR chest compressions pump blood throughout the body while rescue breaths inflate the lungs.
Lowered Risk of Casualties
Individuals who have completed CPR certification and retain their knowledge through recertification courses are the most likely to save lives. Trained individuals are also more likely to lessen the likelihood of rib fractures and internal damage. So, not only do trained individuals increase the possibility of survival. They do so while preventing further complications.
Improved Efficiency
People with specified CPR knowledge can perform CPR lifesaving techniques with better accuracy and more confidence. Courses should follow the most up-to-date guidelines set forth by the American Heart Association. Certified individuals will also understand the different aspects of adult vs. child and infant CPR.
Increased Survival Chances
The most obvious benefit to learning CPR lifesaving skills is the increased survival chances you bring to those suffering cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, most cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital, and only 50% of those CPR-certified say they would feel comfortable giving CPR.
The importance of receiving ongoing CPR education cannot be overstated. Without continued education, not only do CPR-certified individuals lose valuable training. They also lose the confidence it takes to act decisively in emergencies—the fresher your training. The quicker you’ll react.
Knowledge of Most Recent Standards and Guidelines
As technology advances, so do CPR methods. CPR-certified individuals understand the steps to performing CPR based on the most recent updates. These individuals can identify the improved national CPR guidelines to perform chest compressions at the correct depth, following current guidelines for processes such as rescue breaths, tempo, and duration.
People should also be aware that if you are not formally trained, you should understand how to perform hands-only CPR. People with expired certifications will understand that without their renewed certification, they are at least able to perform hands-only CPR.
The Need to Understand How to Use an AED
Bystanders may need to administer a shock during a cardiac arrest event. To do this, one should have AED knowledge. Although there is guidance on the machine, anyone considering using an AED should have the proper training.
After administering the shock, those certified in CPR training should continue CPR until they discover discovery signs.
Conclusion- Why Should I Care About CPR?
There should be little doubt as to why CPR is necessary: it saves lives. But you might think you can perform CPR without CPR certification or that it’s highly uncommon you’ll ever experience a scenario when you have to put your skills to use.
The ugly truth is that sudden cardiac arrest can occur anywhere at any time. In fact, most cardiac arrests occur at home or the office, so the likelihood of being called upon to answer the CPR bell is higher than ever.