It happens unexpectedly, then the breaths get shorter, the chest begins to tighten and before long consciousness is lost. Panic ensues all around, that is if there are people around, and all of them are looking on in vain as the individual continues to clutch the chest, as if clinging on for dear life itself. It is cardiac arrest come to life, or more specifically to take it. Few moments, if any, can inspire as much fear as those few fleeting seconds of when an individual has the life literally being taken out of him. However, even in this alarmingly grim scenario there still exists hope. Hope that a person in the midst of cardiac arrest can hang on long enough for an ambulance, for a doctor, for anything at all that can improve the chances of live. But that hope is fleeting as well, it needs to be helped along. The only ones that can administer the help are the people with CPR training.
In an age where more and more people are being diagnosed with heart disease, knowledge of CPR can prove to be very valuable. Especially when people consider that these cardiac attacks are more likely to take place at home since the people most prone to them are probably retired. The sudden onset of cardiac arrest can certainly send people scrambling. It is a highly distressing sight to see in person and if it happens to a loved one then the stress only increases. But as always, it pays to stay calm and to be educated especially when it comes to topics that can actually save lives.
CPR is also known as cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The basic function of this act is to keep the essential functions of the brain going in those minutes in between the arrival of the ambulance. The procedure manages to accomplish this by maintaining a semblance of blood flow to the brain and heart. The small doses of oxygenated blood being pumped by this procedure may not be enough to fully restore the body, but they are enough to at the very least keep it in commission. If the person is not addressed properly over this time frame, then the brain may cease to function leading to death. CPR training is not that difficult to undertake and the skill itself is one well-worth knowing for real-life situations.
The first step of administering CPR is to determine whether the person in question is in need of it. This can be determined by a quick check of the breathing pattern. After determining an abnormal breathing pattern, what follows next is the pumping procedure. This can be done by pushing down on the chest 2 inches for 30 times and then this action is followed by rapid pumps being doled out at a rate of at least 100/minute. The last step in CPR involves lifting up the chin of the individual, pinching the nose and then subsequently breathing into the mouth until the chest rises. If the steps are done properly, then the individual should have at least partial blood flow to the body’s most important organs.
If you would like to be sure that your CPR training is well worth it, you can always undergo the CPR training and certification program being offered by Citywide CPR.
