Over the past few years, the American Heart Association has been gradually changing the business of teaching rescuers to perform CPR, from intermittently providing emergency breathing for a fallen individual between chest compressions to a reduction in the number of breaths given and an increase in the number of compressions.
This is because studies have consistently shown that giving emergency breaths to a person in cardiac arrest does little to provide additional oxygen to the patient. There is, however, enough oxygen remaining in the patient’s lungs and blood stream to continue to sustain life in the vital organs for several minutes. For this reason, the American Heart Association has revised its directions concerning CPR to reflect the importance of maintaining the circulation of blood throughout the body.
In the most recent update, which was not originally due until 2010, the American Heart Association now recommends rapid and continuous chest compressions, at a rate of around 100 compressions per minute, without giving any rescue breaths at all. This is known as hands-only CPR, and is the new standard for emergency care.
Hands-Only CPR is more Widely Accepted
Studies have shown that potential rescuers are more likely to learn and use CPR when it does not involve mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. In general, people have become increasingly wary of providing emergency breaths due to both health concerns and hygienic reasons. It is the hope of the American Heart Association that more members of the public will become trained in the use of CPR now that the practice of providing emergency breaths has been discontinued.
In order to effectively perform CPR and keep the blood flowing to the brain and other organs, chest compressions need to be deep enough to cause the heart to constrict, forcing the blood to circulate. Once CPR has been initiated, the rescuer needs to continue the procedure either until paramedics arrive or until an automated external defibrillator becomes available.
Hands-only CPR should only be used on normal, healthy adults who collapse suddenly and have no apparent signs of life. Children, adults who have suffered a near drowning, and those who have overdosed on drugs or carbon monoxide need increased oxygen and still need mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in addition to receiving the chest compressions.
CPR Greatly Enhances Chances of Survival
Each year approximately 310,000 people in America die from cardiac arrest. Of all the reported cases of cardiac emergencies each year, only about six percent survive if the incident occurs outside of a hospital. Those who receive immediate assistance in the form of hands-only CPR are two to three times more likely to survive. Add in the use of an automated external defibrillator, which shocks the heart back into a normal rhythm, and the chances of survival begin to reach above the 90 percent range.
Not only are there studies that show the importance of early intervention and assistance in the case of cardiac emergencies, but now there are a growing number of incidents where hands-only CPR has been used for extended periods of time with great success. Since only about one third of victims of cardiac emergencies receive immediate, emergency help, the results of these studies only serve to highlight how important it is for every adult to make it their business to become trained in the administration of CPR. After all, it could save a life one day.
