CPR – Cardio, Pulmonary Resuscitation

by Jack Carr | Uncategorized

A recent survey conducted by the British Heart Foundation reveals a concerning statistic: 1 in 3 adults in the UK are unsure how to assist someone who is unconscious and not breathing. While 96% would instinctively call an ambulance, most lack the knowledge to provide effective aid while awaiting its arrival.

The UK's survival rates for cardiac arrest lag significantly behind those of other European countries. Integrating first aid into the curriculum of English schools is a positive step, but a more crucial development is encouraging more individuals to participate in practical or online first aid training. This training empowers bystanders to perform CPR promptly if someone collapses and ceases breathing.

When to Administer CPR

Each year in the UK, approximately 30,000 individuals experience cardiac arrests outside of hospital settings. The prompt administration of bystander CPR and the use of a defibrillator can more than double the chance of survival. If you encounter someone who is unconscious and not breathing, it is critical to open their airway and commence CPR immediately. If an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is accessible, use it as soon as possible and contact emergency services.

In cases where the individual is unconscious but breathing, they should be placed in the recovery position and monitored closely to ensure they continue breathing.

How to Perform CPR

Adult

In adults, a cardiac arrest generally leaves them with 3 to 4 minutes' worth of oxygenated blood. During this critical window, performing chest compressions can circulate this oxygenated blood, sustaining vital organs and buying precious time until professional medical help arrives.

To perform CPR on an adult:

  • Place the heel of your hand on the center of the chest, placing the other hand on top.

  • Press down firmly, compressing the chest by 5-6 cm at a steady rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.

  • After 30 chest compressions, give two rescue breaths. Ensure that the breaths are enough to cause the chest to rise.

  • If available, use a defibrillator as soon as possible.

Child

Children are more prone to respiratory arrests rather than cardiac ones, and they do not retain oxygen as efficiently as adults. Therefore, when resuscitating a child, begin with 5 rescue breaths by tilting the head and lifting the chin to open the airway. Breathe gently into the child’s mouth, ensuring the chest rises.

Follow these steps:

  • Perform 30 chest compressions by pushing down on the chest to about one-third of its depth.

  • Call for an ambulance, then continue with cycles of 2 breaths followed by 30 compressions.

What to Do if Your Baby is Unconscious and Not Breathing

The first steps for an infant mirror those for adults and children: check for Danger, Response, Airway, and Breathing. If the baby is not breathing normally (fewer than 2 breaths in a 10-second period), initiate CPR.

Steps for CPR on a Baby:

  • Tilt the head and lift the chin: This positioning helps open the airway by moving the tongue away from the back of the throat.

  • Give up to 5 rescue breaths: Cover both the mouth and nose with your mouth and gently puff your cheeks, delivering small breaths (their lungs are very small, about the size of a teabag).

  • Chest compressions: Use two thumbs or fingers to push down on the chest about one-third of its depth, at a rate of 120 compressions per minute.

Continue with cycles of 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths. If you are alone, perform CPR for one minute before calling for an ambulance.

Click here for full details on assisting an unconscious baby.

Why Defibrillators Save Lives

Immediate and appropriate treatment, including CPR and defibrillation, is crucial for anyone who is unconscious and not breathing. The British Heart Foundation reports that only one in ten victims survive a cardiac arrest. The UK's survival rate is significantly lower than that of Scandinavian countries, where there is a stronger emphasis on educating and training the population, including school children, in first aid.

Defibrillators, or AEDs, are life-saving devices that, when used alongside CPR, can dramatically increase survival rates. In cases where someone collapses and is not breathing, timely CPR and defibrillation can boost the chances of survival from 6% to as high as 74%, provided the defibrillator is used within the first three minutes of collapse.

Every minute's delay in providing CPR and defibrillation reduces the victim’s survival chances by 7 to 10 per cent, highlighting the need for swift action. Without immediate intervention, 90-95 per cent of cardiac arrests are fatal.

What Should You Do if You Witness Someone Having a Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

  • Call 999: If possible, have someone else make the call while you begin CPR. If you're alone, put the phone on speaker mode to keep your hands free.

  • Start CPR: Begin chest compressions immediately.

  • Locate a Defibrillator (AED): Get someone to fetch an AED if available.

  • Use the Defibrillator: For children, use pediatric pads or settings if available. If not, place one pad on the chest and the other on the back for children over one year old. For infants under one, continue CPR and seek advice from paramedics regarding AED use.

Defibrillators are increasingly available in public places like train stations, shopping centers, airports, and leisure centers. Apps like Heartsafe can help you find the nearest AED. Using a defibrillator is straightforward and you cannot harm an unconscious person by using one if they are not breathing.

Research by the British Heart Foundation indicates that only 40 per cent of bystanders perform CPR when witnessing a cardiac arrest, with 62 per cent of British adults expressing uncertainty about how to respond. Raising awareness and education about defibrillators and CPR is crucial for improving survival rates following cardiac arrests.

FAQs

What is the first thing to do when you find someone unconscious and not breathing?
Immediately check for danger, response, open their airway, and check for breathing. If they are not breathing or not breathing normally, start CPR.

How do defibrillators increase survival rates in cardiac arrest cases?
Defibrillators restore a normal heart rhythm in cases of cardiac arrest by delivering an electric shock. When combined with CPR, they can significantly increase survival rates.

How do I perform CPR on a child?
Start with 5 rescue breaths, then perform 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths. Repeat this cycle until help arrives or the child recovers.

What should I do if I don't have access to a defibrillator?
Continue performing CPR. Chest compressions alone can be effective in keeping blood circulating and maintaining oxygenation until professional help arrives.

Can using a defibrillator harm someone who is not in cardiac arrest?
No, defibrillators are designed to assess the heart's rhythm and will not deliver a shock unless necessary.

Where can I find defibrillators in public places?
Defibrillators are often located in train stations, shopping centers, airports, and other public spaces. Apps like Heartsafe can help locate the nearest AED.