Posts Tagged ‘CPR Class in Redwood Ciity’

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can save lives, but in a cardiac emergency, even trained bystanders may hesitate to perform CPR.  One potential reason, researchers say, is mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.  Fears of disease transmission or simply the added complexity of combining rescue breathing with chest compressions may deter people from giving CPR.  Fortunately, research has shown that mouth-to-mouth resuscitation may not be as important in CPR as previously thought.  In fact, under some circumstances, traditional CPR with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation may actually decrease the survival rate for victims of cardiac arrest. The best way to learn all about the information discussed int this article is to receive your CPR Certification in Redwood City.
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends at least 100 chest compressions per minute, with two rescue breaths given after every 30 compressions.  This is still the preferred CPR method for medical personnel and others who are experienced at administering CPR in Redwood City by taking a CPR Course.  By taking over circulation and respiration, the combination of chest compressions and rescue breathing helps to deliver oxygen to the lungs and moves oxygen-carrying blood through the bloodstream.
Since 2010, however, the AHA has recommended a simplified version of CPR, hands-only CPR, for bystanders who do not have specialized CPR training or whose training is limited.  As the name suggests, hands-only CPR (also called compression-only CPR or cardiocerebral resuscitation) eliminates rescue breathing, concentrating on the delivery of chest compressions.  The recommended number of chest compressions remains the same in this method.
The AHA’s recommendation is based on a growing number of scientific studies which show increased survival rates using the hands-only method, especially when the person performing CPR is instructed by a 911 dispatcher.  For example, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2010 showed a 9% increase in the survival rate of people suffering from cardiac arrest when the hands-only method was used.  Even more encouragingly, a 2012 Japanese study showed that cardiac arrest sufferers were 33% more likely to survive with normal brain function if hands-only CPR and a defibrillator were used together.  The technique works because some oxygen remains in the bloodstream after someone suffers cardiac arrest, and the compressions help to distribute the oxygen to bodily tissues.
Despite the increased survival rate, there are some circumstances in which hands-only CPR should not be used.  Children suffering from cardiac arrest still require rescue breathing to enhance their survival chances.  If there is an obvious cause for heart stoppage other than cardiac arrest, such as suffocation or drowning, traditional CPR should be used.  Finally, because no fresh oxygen is delivered in hands-only CPR, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation should still be used if the rescuer does not know how long the victim has been in cardiac arrest, or if professional rescuers cannot respond quickly to take over and transport the victim to a hospital.  Some studies have indicated that if an ambulance is more than 15 minutes away, traditional CPR is more likely to save lives.  However, whenever someone’s heart stops beating, any CPR method is better than no CPR and that is why you should take CPR Course in Redwood City.
Although hands-only CPR should not be used in every situation, it can make a significant difference in the survival of victims of cardiac arrest.  Hard, fast chest compressions without a pause for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation can save lives.