When providing medical care, the procedures you decide to perform can have a significant impact on whether you save them. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is the emergency treatment for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. There are a variety of techniques, the most popular of which are hands-on CPR and traditional CPR.
The importance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CPR is vital in relieving common heart failure. Bringing someone with these experiences to a medical facility is ideal. With devices like oxygen concentrators and defibrillators, they can manage oxygen and stop abnormal heart rhythms.
Unfortunately, these attacks do not always occur in or near these medical centers. Approximately 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year, of which nearly 90% are fatal. If a loved one is in an emergency, you must perform CPR.
Hands-On CPR vs. Traditional CPR
Perform chest compressions with your hands only, starting by placing the heel of one hand on the center of the victim. Rescuers should compress hard and quickly to a depth of at least two inches at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. The purpose of this action is to keep vital organs alive by distributing remaining oxygen in the heart.
Traditional CPR combines the same set of chest compressions and rescue breathing. For every 30 compressions, the rescuer must tilt the victim’s head back, pinch their nose, and take two breaths through the mouth. This method provides extra oxygen to the body.
Both hands-on CPR and traditional CPR are effective for emergency services and for mitigating cardiac arrest. The former is ideal if the victim may have oxygen remaining. However, if rescuers are unsure whether they still have oxygen, CPR by breathing is recommended.
Hands-only CPR is also recommended if the rescuer is self-conscious or aware of mouth-to-mouth contact. Chest compressions can still help a victim recover from cardiac arrest, so it’s much better than doing nothing.
Factors to consider
The choice between manual CPR and traditional CPR is relatively situation-specific. Here are the factors you must consider when deciding which technique to perform.
age
The age of a cardiac arrest patient has a large impact on their oxygen levels. Both adults and teenagers are pretty standard, so manual CPR is very feasible. However, infants, children, and the elderly may benefit more from traditional CPR.
Younger and older age groups have higher oxygen requirements than other groups. Their body’s oxygen production and consumption may not be fully developed or may be deteriorating, making respiratory CPR vital.
Health status
The victim’s health may also be a factor. For example, accumulating frustration and experiencing stressful situations can lead to heart failure. People with stress-related illnesses can cope with hands-on CPR.
Panic attacks can deplete their oxygen supply, so traditional CPR is far more effective. This technique is more effective for those who are pregnant. However, it is important to be aware of the risk of disease transmission. Rescuers are encouraged to attend formal CPR training to learn more.
reason
The cause behind the cardiac arrest may affect the form of CPR performed. Someone who is drowning or overdosed may have a limited oxygen supply. Therefore, artificial respiration is crucial to save them.
In some cases, hands-only CPR is an alternative that focuses on whether the mouth can be ventilated. CPR should always be performed by turning the victim onto a hard, flat surface. However, their mouth may be unusable due to injury.
Length and response
Sudden cardiac arrest may seem to happen immediately, but it may take some time. However, without treatment, death can occur within minutes, making the situation even more urgent. In the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, chest compressions are critical to ensuring survival. It is recommended that you contact emergency services at this time.
When the victim shows signs of life, the chest should retract between compressions. If this happens, rescuers are in a good stopping point. However, if the victim is unresponsive, it is best to switch from manual CPR to traditional CPR. The chest should rise with each breath for maximum effect. Repeat these cycles until help arrives.
Perform proper CPR
Hands-on CPR and traditional CPR are both beneficial but different techniques. To validate the ideal approach, look for factors in cardiac arrest events. Choosing the right method and executing it correctly can save a loved one.
