What is CPR?

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a combination of rescue breathing and chest compressions delivered to victims thought to be in cardiac arrest. When cardiac arrest occurs, the heart stops pumping blood. CPR keeps oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs until appropriate medical treatment can restore a normal heart rhythm.

Cardiac arrest is the ultimate medical emergency. Without rapid action, the chance
of a patient surviving cardiac arrest is almost zero. Cardiac arrest is defined as loss of
consciousness with absence of circulation, accompanied by absent or gasping
respiration. In the setting of witnessed cardiac arrest, some patients may continue
to have some spontaneous respiratory effort for a few minutes.

Breathing

Mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing is the quickest way to get oxygen into a person's lungs. However, if you're not trained in emergency procedures, doctors recommend skipping mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing and proceeding directly to chest compression.

The reason is that if you're distracted by trying to perform unfamiliar breathing techniques, valuable lifesaving minutes might be lost for the person who needs help. The most important thing you can do is to proceed directly to chest compression to move blood to vital organs, particularly the brain and heart. If you're trained in emergency procedures, it's important to do both mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing and chest compression

Chest compression

Chest compressions replace the heartbeat when it has stopped. Compressions help maintain some blood flow to the brain, lungs and heart. You must perform rescue breathing anytime you perform chest compressions.

Before starting CPR,
assess the situation:

Is the person conscious or unconscious? If the person appears unconscious, tap or shake his or her shoulder and ask loudly, "Are you OK?"

If the person doesn't respond, follow the steps below and get help by dialing 999 or calling for emergency medical assistance. If you can't leave the scene, have someone else call.

(CPR Advise on treating Infants More..)

IT CAN BE AS EASY AS A - B - C:

A - AIRWAY

• Position the person so you can check for signs of life by laying the person flat on their back on a firm surface and extending the neck.
• Shake victim at the shoulders and shout "are you okay?"
• If no response, call ambulance - 999 then,
• Open the person's mouth and airway by lifting the chin forward. Determine whether the person is breathing by simultaneously listening for breath sounds, feeling for air motion on your cheek and ear, and looking for chest motion.
• Check for obstructions, false teeth, loose teeth, vomiting.

B - BREATHING

• Position your cheek close to victims' nose and mouth, look toward victims' chest, and
• Look, listen, and feel for breathing (5-10 seconds)
• If not breathing, pinch victim's nose closed and give 2 full breaths into victim's mouth.
• If breaths won't go in, reposition head and try again to give breaths.
  

C - CIRCULATION

• Check for carotid pulse by feeling for 5-10 seconds at side of victims' neck.
• If there is a pulse but victim is not breathing, give Rescue breathing at rate of 1 breath every 5 seconds Or 12 breaths per minute
• If there is no pulse, begin chest compressions as follows:
  • Place heel of your hand 2 fingers’ width above the junction of the casualty’s rib margin and breastbone. Place other hand on top and interlock fingers. Keeping your arms straight and your fingers off the chest, press down by 1½ to 2 inches; then release the pressure, keeping your hands in place.
  • Push down 1½ to 2 inches at a rate of 80 to 100 times a minute. The pushing down and letting up phase of each cycle should be equal in duration. Don't jab down and relax. After 15 compressions, breathe into the person's mouth twice.
  • Younger children and infants = 5 compressions : 1 breath
  • return your hands quickly to the correct position on the chest and then give the next compressions and breaths - continue compressions:breaths cycles
  • check for return of pulse every minute.
  • After every four cycles of 15 compressions and two breaths, recheck for signs of life. Continue the rescue maneuvers as long as there are no signs of life.