Know Important Steps Of CPR

A person might go into sudden cardiac arrest due to breathing issues and would need immediate hands only CPR. The main CPR steps include chest compressions at the center of the chest with one hand on top per national guidelines. The next step is mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Otherwise, compression only CPR can also work.

Without instant medical services or care on sight, the lay responder can use the smart Automated External Defibrillator (AED) device. Without the use of AEDs on time, the patient might stop breathing, and this matter would turn worse. The patient can have permanent brain damage, or they might end up losing their life. That is when the person nearest to them must perform hands-only CPR steps accurately with the help of an immediately available Automatic External Defibrillator or AED. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, saves lives when you follow it step-by-step before professional medical help arrives. The nationally accepted steps of CPR require you to help the victim to start their breathing as you first assess the scene for complete safety. 

American HealthCare Academy recommends the C-A-B method when starting CPR in adult sudden cardiac arrest situations. This method includes giving 30 chest compressions, clearing the airway, and giving 2 rescue breaths. Read the blog post ahead to understand when and how to perform CPR with accurate information and steps.

When And How To Perform CPR?

Start the steps of CPR with adequate chest compressions and pressure at the center of the chest in most common cases of sudden cardiac arrest when the patient either stops breathing or isn’t responding to the rescuer’s call to wake up and gain consciousness. You can also tilt the head to check if the person is breathing normally, even for a bit, after you have given them chest compressions as per the C-A-B technique of CPR.

Fear and anxiety can cloud your judgment when you witness someone fainting and running out of breath. You might not understand whether to call 911 first or look for other help to save the victim’s life. That’s why knowing the signs before learning the steps of CPR is important.

These signs eliminate doubt. You can act fast after ensuring the patient requires CPR immediately to save their life before paramedics arrive with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). To know more, you can follow the right guidelines for performing adult CPR on the next victim you encounter with confidence. 

Signs for Starting CPR:

1. When the patient has stopped breathing 

Start CPR when you check for breathing and find them unresponsive. It will help regulate the oxygen in the body before it’s too late. Without the accurate and regularized flow of blood and oxygen, the body starts to shut down and die. An average person can live up to 4-6 minutes without oxygen in this state. But without giving CPR, the brain might suffer further permanent damage. Performing CPR within 2-4 minutes of cardiac arrest improves patients’ chances of reviving their breathing.

2. When the patient is gasping for breaths 

Another sign that the patient might be going into cardiac arrest is that they start gasping for breaths. You must begin chest compressions as soon as possible till the healthcare experts arrive. 

3. When you do not feel the pulse

If the person doesn’t have a pulse, you must start giving CPR immediately. Because if the heart isn’t pumping, the body will soon stop getting oxygen. That will cause the body to go into cardiac arrest. Chest compressions can help the body to get the right blood flow to the heart and the body. Perform it well till the emergency responders arrive. 

4. When the person is unresponsive 

The patient might be unconscious or unresponsive right now. This happens when the brain and body cannot receive oxygen on time. Performing CPR improves their chances of surviving without permanent damage to the brain or body. Medical experts also recommend performing CPR instead of not doing it at all in such situations. 

There are 6-7 accurate steps of CPR to perform after identifying the situations above. The best way to know how to perform accurate CPR is to get training from AHCA experts. The steps are easy to perform. The CPR course at AHCA is AHA-compliant and designed by OSHA-certified trainers. They teach everyone interested in CPR to empower them to save lives during medical emergencies. 

What Is The Correct And Current Procedure For CPR?

Check the basic steps of CPR below to perform. Call 911 before performing these steps. 

Basic CPR Steps:

1. Position your hand 

Let the patient lie on the plane surface. Kneel beside them and place your hand’s knee on their chest.

2. Interlock your fingers

Keep your arms parallel to your shoulders. Put your second hand over the first. Interlock fingers of both hands. Keep fingers slightly above the chest. Do not let them touch the rib or chest directly. Check if you have an AED with you, in case you need one later.

3. Start giving chest compressions

Put your shoulders directly over the patient’s chest by leaning over. Press down two inches. Release this pressure after a beat but not your hands. Wait for another beat for the chest to swell. Repeat this process to give 30 chest compressions but hit 100-120 compressions per minute. 

4. Open the patient’s airway

Move beside the patient’s head. Lift their head and chin to open their blocked airway. Open their mouth slightly. 

5. Give rescue breaths 

Close the patient’s nostril with one hand and lift the chin with another. Put your mouth over the patient’s and start blowing in till their chest rises. 

6. Watch the chest fall & repeat

Remove yourself from the patient. When the chest falls, repeat 5-6 steps. You can also repeat 1-6 steps until paramedics are finally there. 

How To Perform CPR In Infants, Children, And Adults?

If you’re not CPR certified, continue to give 30 chest compressions till medical professionals arrive with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). You will know better how to proceed to opening the airway and giving rescue breaths with proper CPR training following AHA guidelines. The CPR trainers teach you the usage of AED, masks, and two-person CPR. You will learn how to use pediatric pads /adult pads on children older than four weeks old to 8 years of age.

CPR steps for babies about four weeks old are slightly different. You must identify their reason for choking or gasping. It is advisable to perform First Aid for choking first on babies. If that doesn’t help, you move on to the steps of CPR for babies. The process will have a C-A-B sequence. Instead of placing your two hands, place two fingers at the baby’s chest and press 1.5 inches only. Rest steps are the same as followed in adult or children CPR. But give gentle air puffs when you give two rescue breaths at once to babies under four weeks of age. 

Conclusion on CPR Steps:

Loss of oxygen to the body and brain leads to sudden cardiac arrest. Adults and children need immediate CPR within the next 2-4 minutes to have a speedy recovery. Babies need even gentler CPR. Training for accurate steps of CPR is available at American Healthcare Academy. Groups of 5 or more learners can avail of the group and corporate discounts for this course. It follows updated AHA guidelines with step-by-step video lessons.