Teaching kids early about CPR can be a real lifesaver. Kids are better when it comes to developing skills for long-term use. They are less likely to forget when they are able to do hands-on and CPR training is just like that.
It is easy as introducing to them cardiopulmonary resuscitation while watching TV or movies with you particularly those that shows medical personnel performing one. However, it is important to note that some shows and movies don’t depict the correct way to perform CPR.
So, what is CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a way that kids would understand?
Cardio pertains to the heart and pulmonary pertains to the lungs, while resuscitation is a medical term for reviving – or at least try to – bring someone back to life after they have lost the heart’s main function, which is to pump out blood to vital organs. The process of CPR can help increase the survival of a person who has suddenly dropped dead – with no heart activity (pulseless) and with high risk of developing irreversible brain damage secondary to loss of oxygen.
Medical personnel and all those who respond to emergencies are trained to do CPR but kids, teens and adults can be aware and get trained to do CPR, as well.
Components of CPR
There are two basic components of CPR including –
- Chest compressions
- Rescue breathing
However, studies have shown that chest compressions alone are enough to enhance the survival of the patient who goes into cardiac arrest because the blood still has oxygen that should be delivered to vital organs particularly the brain.
Chest Compressions
Chest compressions are done using both hands but when the one being given CPR is a baby or a child – one hand would suffice. This is done to press the chest from the outside in order to move the circulation out from the heart towards vital organs. This will help deliver the necessary oxygen especially by the brain so that no permanent damage will ensue or be kept minimized if any.
A person whose brain does not have oxygen for more than five minutes will get permanent damage since the cells can no longer sustain their living state.
The process of chest compression will make the hands go up and down – up when you allow blood to flow back to the heart and down when you make the blood flow out of the heart. This should be done until emergency help arrives on scene and takes the patient to the hospital where it can receive post-cardiac arrest interventions.
When kids are trained and educated about CPR early, they would grow up readier and more prepared on what could happen. There will be less panic and anxiety when they are confronted with emergency situations like cardiac arrest.
