Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure that combines chest compressions with rescue breaths to help maintain blood circulation and oxygenation to the brain and other vital organs in a person who has stopped breathing or whose heart has stopped beating.

Purpose of CPR

The primary purpose of CPR is to:

• Restore blood circulation and oxygenation to the brain and other vital organs
• Delay tissue death and prevent further damage to the brain and other organs
• Increase the chances of successful resuscitation and survival

Technique

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends the following CPR technique for adults:

1. Call 911 or your local emergency number: If you are alone with the person, call 911 or your local emergency number before starting CPR. If you are with someone else, have one person call while the other starts CPR.
2. Check the person's airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs): Position the person on their back on a firm, flat surface. Tilt their head back and lift their chin to open their airway. Listen for breath sounds and feel for air on your cheek. Check for a pulse in the neck.
3. Start chest compressions: If the person is unresponsive and not breathing (or not breathing normally), begin chest compressions. Place the heel of one hand on the center of the person's chest, just above the nipple line. Place your other hand on top of the first hand, with your fingers interlaced. Push down on the chest with the heel of your hand to a depth of 2-3 inches, then release. Repeat this process at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.
4. Give rescue breaths: After every 30 chest compressions, give two breaths. Pinch the person's nose shut and give one breath through their mouth. The breath should last about one second and make the person's chest rise. Give a second breath after the first one.

Types of CPR

There are several types of CPR, including:

• Adult CPR: For people aged 8 and older
• Child CPR: For children between 1 and 8 years old
• Infant CPR: For infants under 1 year old
• Newborn CPR: For newborns up to 28 days old
• Hands-only CPR: A simplified version of CPR that involves only chest compressions, without rescue breaths

Importance of CPR Training

CPR training is essential for anyone who wants to learn how to save a life in the event of a cardiac emergency. The AHA recommends that everyone learn CPR, including:

• Healthcare professionals
• First responders
• Family members and caregivers of people with heart conditions
• Anyone who wants to learn how to save a life

CPR Certification

To become CPR certified, you must take a training course that includes both classroom instruction and hands-on practice. The AHA offers several types of CPR certification courses, including:

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification: For healthcare professionals and first responders
• Heartsaver CPR/AED certification: For anyone who wants to learn CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED)
• Family & Friends CPR certification: For family members and caregivers of people with heart conditions

CPR Devices and Equipment

There are several devices and equipment that can be used to assist with CPR, including:

• Automated external defibrillators (AEDs): Portable devices that can analyze a person's heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock if necessary
• CPR masks: Devices that fit over the nose and mouth to help prevent the transmission of diseases during rescue breaths
• CPR mannequins: Life-like dolls used for CPR training and practice