How to perform CPR: Guidelines, Procedure & Ratio

Sometimes being in a situation where you can help someone who has collapsed can be the only thing that saves that person’s life. CPR certified individuals know precisely what to do when they are faced with situations that require their knowledge in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Though most people learn CPR in the first aid class, a large number end up forgetting, and this can be a huge problem. Performing CPR the right way is usually a matter of life and death, which is why CPR certified individuals are the only ones who should perform chest compressions on the victim. Immediate CPR before the emergency team arrives can be the only chance that the victim has at survival, which is why you should learn CPR at a recognized institution or platform.

CPR To Help the Victim

Performing CPR allows you to pump the chest of the victim so that blood can begin circulating to other parts of the body in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest. At this point, the heart beat can no longer be felt because cardiac arrest prevents blood flow to essential organs and the brain, meaning that the victim can die within these few minutes.

You can identify a person who requires immediate CPR as a result of suffering from a cardiac arrest and not a heart attack by noting key signs. The victim will become unconscious and won’t have a heartbeat. Though cardiac arrest can occur, suddenly, there are some warning signs that the victim might experience, such as lightheadedness, dizziness, chest pain, nausea, increased heartbeat, and vomiting.

Causes Cardiac Arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest is a result of heart rhythm abnormality, also known as arrhythmia, characterized by a lack of a heartbeat. Arrhythmias are treatable and don’t have to be dangerous when diagnosed early. It becomes life-threatening when it combines with other heart conditions such as an enlarged heart, coronary artery disease, and heart attack.

CPR can greatly improve the odds of the victim in terms of making it because the pumping motion allows oxygen-filled blood to be transported to different parts of the body. Time is usually of great essence as every minute counts. If the victim doesn’t receive help within five minutes, then the brain cells start dying, and this makes it difficult for the patient to survive after 10 minutes go by.

How to Perform CPR ?

Medical experts reveal that mouth to mouth isn’t necessary when performing CPR. Your primary focus should be to provide hands-only CPR as you help the victim out of danger. Hands-only is regarded as being just as effective as the one combined with mouth-to-mouth since there is existing oxygen in the victim’s blood that can circulate when you pump the chest.

The process of performing CPR involves three Cs which stand for Check, call, and then compress. You should first check if the victim is responsive by looking for signs of breathing. Secondly, call for emergency response by providing details of your location. The last step involves kneeling over the victim and then placing one hand on top of the other while interlocking them. The fingers of the bottom hand should be straight, and your arms should be straight as you push on the chest using the heel of the palm.

At the American Health Care Academy, we provide online CPR/AED certifications that prepare you for these types of emergencies. Register today to earn your CPR certification online!