It's all about possibly saving someone's life and doing it to the beat of a pop song.
The post title are the 3 basic steps to follow for Hands-Only CPR (cardio-pulmonary) without using the former mouth-mouth resuscitation method. In April, 2008, the American Heart Association (AHA) took steps to simplify the process of helping victims of cardiac arrest by introducing "hands-only" CPR. More information is on the AHA website.
You don't need formal CPR training to understand how to perform this type of resuscitation. The rescuer starts compressions over the heart, at about the nipple line, and compresses at a regular rhythm. It's simple, but helps to maintain brain and heart perfusion. The rhythm is similar to the beat in the popular song Staying Alive. In essence, that's all someone needs to do until medical help or an AED (automated external defibrillator arrives.
It's estimated that each year, about 310,000 Americans, who died of cardiac arrest at home or in a public place, did not receive help. Bystanders were afraid to initiate CPR for fear they would "do something wrong" or "won't know what to do." Others were reluctant to perform mouth-to-mouth breathing for fear of contracting an infection.
That's why the AHA proposed the new guidelines. It allows bystanders untrained in conventional CPR or who fear "making a mistake" a way to offer help. According to medical professionals, doing something is preferable to not doing anything.
It consists of these steps:
You don't need formal CPR training to understand how to perform this type of resuscitation. The rescuer starts compressions over the heart, at about the nipple line, and compresses at a regular rhythm. It's simple, but helps to maintain brain and heart perfusion. The rhythm is similar to the beat in the popular song Staying Alive. In essence, that's all someone needs to do until medical help or an AED (automated external defibrillator arrives.
It's estimated that each year, about 310,000 Americans, who died of cardiac arrest at home or in a public place, did not receive help. Bystanders were afraid to initiate CPR for fear they would "do something wrong" or "won't know what to do." Others were reluctant to perform mouth-to-mouth breathing for fear of contracting an infection.
That's why the AHA proposed the new guidelines. It allows bystanders untrained in conventional CPR or who fear "making a mistake" a way to offer help. According to medical professionals, doing something is preferable to not doing anything.
It consists of these steps:
- Call 9-1-1 yourself or ask someone else to do that.
- Interlock your hands and position them in the center of the person's check, keeping your elbows straight.
- Push hard and fast in the center of the chest for up to 100 compressions per minute.
You can see the technique presented in this AHA video, which includes the Staying Alive song. While the presentation may appear light-hearted, the message is serious and could save a your life — perhaps your own or that of someone you know (or don't know).
NOTE: This video was done by the AHA and embedded from YouTube. I was unaware that it's only one of several provided by the AHA, so you may want to not watch them all.
NOTE: This video was done by the AHA and embedded from YouTube. I was unaware that it's only one of several provided by the AHA, so you may want to not watch them all.
The local ambulance service here in Nashua recently presented a program at the Senior Center which we both took. Later this month we're taking an advanced course. While most folks hope to never need to do this, it's good to know how to do it (just in case).
Check in your area as well. The AHA is conducting a nationwide campaign to spread awareness of this life-saving technique and this week it was featured on a segment of ABC's Good Morning America program.
13 comments:
A very important message! Thank you!
I haven't watched the video yet, but I have opened it in another tab to watch later.
A great share. I learned the other method years ago and heard about this change. Good for you two doing this course.
I like the message of do something rather than nothing. I'm proud of both of you.
Very important information to know. Thank you for sharing it.
This is good training for us all - thank you.
Very timely information to have!
the process is simple but people have to have enough confidence to use it.
I took a CPR course and they told us that it would most likely be a loved one that would need CPR and that everyone should know how to do it.
Staying Alive song, I can remember that!
Well done for doing the course, you just never know when you may need it.
Thank you. I know there are classes here to educate people on how to deal with heart attacks, although I have never been to one. Shame on me, I hear you say.
Thanks for sharing this important information. We hope it'll never be needed, but nice to know just in case!
Bless you for sharing this important info.
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