Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, more commonly known as CPR, is a first-aid technique that can be applied by any individual in order to maintain breathing or regain heartbeat. While this may be considered as the most basic lifesaving technique, one should exercise caution when applying CPR on a victim. Your skill in doing CPR is a determining factor whether you should do the most basic CPR or the more advanced type of CPR.
When it comes to the application of CPR, one can be categorized as either “trained” or “untrained.” The difference between these two categories is quite obvious. Those who fall under the skilled category are individuals who have been trained to do CPR, such as those who are in the medical field or have worked at institutions engaged in providing health care services, like Red Cross and the like.
On the other hand, unskilled individuals are those without formal training when it comes to applying first aid. However, this does not prevent them from applying the process when emergencies arrive as there is the basic CPR technique and the more advanced type of CPR.
Trained
Trained individuals have the capability to do the more complex type of CPR which involves chest compressions and rescue breathing. Chest compressions refer to the process of putting one’s hands in the middle of the chest and giving fast uninterrupted compressions which must account for more than one compression in a second. Rescue breathing refers to the process of blowing air into the mouth of the victim.
Trained people continually give 30 pumps (chest compressions) and 2 breaths until rescuers arrive. This process has been known to save a lot of lives all over the world.
Untrained
Those who lack the proper first-aid training can apply what is called the Hands-Only CPR. This only involves chest compressions without the accompanying rescue breathing. Here, the average chest compressions to be applied should be around 100/minute. This means that one pump must not take one second to complete in order to reach 100 pumps per one minute.
A background in CPR is a must for every individual. Such knowledge can very well save the life of either a stranger, or a loved one. If you believe that you have no training in CPR, better remember the hands-only CPR where you are not required to do rescue breathing, but only to do continuous chest compressions. Who knows? The life you save might just belong to the one closest to your heart.
If you want to know more about how to properly administer CPR, your best bet would be to attend a CPR training. There are a number of companies like Citywide CPR that offer courses and certification on such.
