CPR: Meaning, Importance, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Survival, Recognition, Chest compressions, Complications, Training, and Compression Rates
Introduction
The term “Cardiopulmonary resuscitation” (CPR) describes a set of life-saving emergency procedures used to physically revive a person experiencing cardiac arrest.
When a person’s heart and lungs stop working, they experience Cardiopulmonary arrest or CPA. Primary respiratory arrest is typically the first sign of CPA in children. In contrast, in adults, ventricular fibrillation and an abrupt shift in the electrical activity of the heart are almost invariably the first signs of CPA, or “sudden death.” Airway management and ventilation are to children in CPA what defibrillation is to adults since the cessation of effective breathing is the triggering element in pediatric CPA. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the process of giving oxygen and circulation to the heart, brain, and lungs utilizing mechanical breathing, basic airway control, and chest compressions. CPR has been demonstrated to increase a child’s chances of surviving a drowning, and it might also help patients with CPA from other conditions.
Recognition
One of the most important steps in starting early therapy for cardiac arrest is early detection. If you see someone fall or find someone who is not responding, you should:
• Quickly check the environment to make sure it is safe to approach the person.
• To confirm that someone is not responding, tap their shoulder and yell something like, “Are you okay?”
• If there is no answer, start chest compressions and phone for assistance.
• If a pulse is not detectable within 10 seconds, do not postpone chest compressions.
The Importance of CPR
Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is a technique used to keep people alive and avoid brain damage until more skilled medical personnel arrive in cases of abrupt cardiac arrest and other situations. CPR aims to maintain the flow of oxygenated blood throughout the body and the flow of oxygen into and out of the lungs. This will postpone the demise of tissue.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
A heart attack is not the same as sudden cardiac arrest. This is frequently a confusing idea.
• When normal cardiac impulses are interrupted, the heart suddenly stops pumping, resulting in sudden cardiac arrest.
• The last stage of heart disease, which is the slowing and eventual cessation of blood flow to the heart muscle, is a heart attack.
Survival
The body’s tissues need oxygen-rich blood to circulate to be alive and functional. When blood flow is interrupted for approximately four minutes, the brain may suffer damage. The brain is irreparably damaged after seven minutes of no blood supply. For CPR to be effective, it must be initiated within six minutes of a person experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest. Near drownings and exposure to cold temperatures cause hypothermia, which lowers body temperature and increases brain survival time. 50 to 100 cases of sudden cardiac arrest occur for every 100,000 individuals.
The total survival rate for abrupt cardiac arrest is between 1% and 6%, which is relatively low. The survival rate is 6% if CPR has begun right away; however, it lowers to 2% if no bystander does CPR and it is started until when the ambulance arrives.
Chest compressions
Cardiac arrest victims should receive chest compressions from all responders, regardless of training. Currently, the first line of treatment is chest compressions instead of opening the airway and administering rescue breathing. Effective chest compressions are crucial:
With each downward stroke, compress the chest by at least two inches. Adhere to the maxim “push hard and push fast on the centre of the chest.”
Reduce the number of interruptions and their duration when administering chest compressions. Compress at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. Professional rescuers who have received the necessary training will do chest compressions with ventilations.
Complications
If CPR is performed correctly, difficulties may arise. Common side effects include pulmonary injury, bleeding into the chest, heart bruises, and fractures to the ribs or sternum. Although these issues are usually controllable, anyone should be able to do CPR despite them. Even though it may cause discomfort, only around 2% of people who receive CPR who don’t require it sustain any kind of harm.
Training
Chest compression-only CPR is very attractive because it is easier to teach than conventional CPR and is still beneficial to the victim. Online courses are available to teach this. Nonetheless, instructor-led courses frequently incorporate instruction on how to administer breathing and airway techniques, which might be crucial for the victim in certain situations. Additionally, instructor-led courses typically offer feedback tools like a lifelike “doll,” which can help students learn and maintain the necessary skills. Refresher training is highly advised because CPR skills can decrease in as little as three to six months. It is advised that training intervals of 12 to 24 months are insufficient for refresher training, even though the ideal interval has not yet been determined. To keep skills sharp, refresher courses might be required as frequently as every six months.
Compression Rates
These are the timing rates for individual rescuers; due to ventilation and reassessment intervals, they do not represent the actual number of compressions performed each minute.
Infants: 100 compressions per minute
Newborns: At least 120 occurrences per minute
Children aged 1 to 8: 100 compressions per minute
Children aged 8 and up: 100 compressions per minute