Chest compressions – the first-line response

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a hands-on emergency intervention that helps restore heartbeats and breathing in someone undergoing cardiac arrest. The common causes of cardiac arrest are near-drowning or a heart attack. CPR involves manual chest compressions and rescue breathing. The interventions keep the blood flowing to the brain until medical assistance arrives. Keep reading to explore more about chest compressions:

What are chest compressions?

CPR uses chest compressions to imitate the ways the heart transports blood to the whole body. These compressions are beneficial for keeping oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and other organs of the body. During cardiac arrest, it is crucial to constantly supply oxygen to the brain. If stopped, it can be dangerous for survival and reduce its chances.

Out-of-hospital cardiac care is beneficial for individuals suffering from cardiac arrest. This is when the heart stops beating. This causes the person to collapse, lose consciousness, and stop breathing. You can apply external pressure to the chest manually to pump the heart and keep blood flowing until emergency help arrives. Perform CPR on people of any age. It is required when a person has the following signs of cardiac arrest:

• The person collapses.
• The person stops breathing.
• The person is unresponsive.
• There is no pulse.

Performing CPR is beneficial and increases the likelihood of survival.

Read More: What Are The H’s and T’s of ACLS?

What should you do before performing CPR?

Before you start CPR, perform the following:

• Ensure that you and the victim are well away from traffic, fire, or any other hazard.
• Ask the person if they are alright.
• Ask individuals to find an AED.
• Turn the person on their back and check if they are breathing properly.
• Check for a pulse on the person’s neck.
• If you do not find a pulse, then start CPR right away.

Why is compression crucial?

You can extend successful resuscitation by keeping the blood flow active. You can even keep the flow active partially, if required. Follow this until trained personnel arrive. Here are some crucial reasons why chest compressions are crucial:

1. CPR saves a life: About ninety percent of people suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital area. CPR improves the chances of saving a life when performed at the beginning of a cardiac arrest.
2. Recognizes cardiac arrest: One moment you notice a person healthy, and the other moment you unexpectedly see them falling down. You then monitor the reflexes of the individual to check their vitals. This helps you know whether a person has suffered from any injury or has had a sudden cardiac arrest. 

If you do not get any response, you must assume that the person has experienced cardiac arrest. So call emergency responders right away and start chest compressions. Do the delay in performing chest compressions if you cannot feel the pulse. So do your best, as the person is going to expire soon if you do not attend to them.

1. Chest compressions: A person present on the site, whether trained or not, must start chest compressions for the victim suffering cardiac arrest. Chest compressions are the first-line response instead of opening the airway and delivering rescue breathing. It is crucial to perform high-quality chest compressions and prioritize pushing fast and hard on the center of the chest. 

• Perform chest compressions at least 2 inches deep with each downstroke.
• The rate of compression must be 100 per minute.
• While performing chest compressions, you must minimize the duration and frequency of interruptions.
• You must provide ventilation and chest compressions.

What are the complications?

The objective of chest compression is to supply blood to the heart, brain, and other vital organs of the body until accurate medical treatment is provided. If you do not start chest compressions at the earliest, then the person experiencing cardiac arrest might suffer. The complications may include fractures of the ribs, infections, broken teeth, and punctures of the lungs. The problems are controllable and must not stop anyone from performing CPR. If CPR is performed on someone who does not need it, it can be uncomfortable for that person.

Conclusion

If it is uncommon that chest compressions can only recover the heart, By continuing constant chest compressions, you can improve the odds of survival and maintain the victim’s heart in a condition that increases the likelihood of shocks from a defibrillator. Chest compressions are the first-line response in CPR. If you are hesitant to perform chest compressions or mouth-to-mouth, it may still be life-saving. Do your part, as remember, the difference between you doing something and doing nothing can save someone’s life. For more information, seek ACLS certification courses online.