But not everyone knows when its appropriate or what to do.
Heres how to quickly assess whether or not someone is a candidate for CPR.
What Happens When Someone Goes Into Cardiac Arrest?
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Cardiac arrest means that the heart stops pumping blood to the rest of the body.
Someone who is in cardiac arrest will have no pulse.
What Does CPR Do?
When a person goes into cardiac arrest, blood isnt getting to the rest of their body.
Brain cells start to die within minutes and prolonged cardiac arrest can cause irreversible brain damage.
Doing compressions helps get oxygen to the brain and other vital organs.
How Effective Is CPR?
If they were older or already had chronic health conditions, they may have even lower chances of survival.
When Should You Perform CPR?
while looking for normal breathing.
If the person is conscious and breathing, they do not need CPR.
You should start CPR whether or not you canfeel a pulse.
In fact, the American Heart Association doesnot want people to spend time checking for a pulse.
Paramedics have medical devices that use electrical currents to correct abnormal heart rhythms (defibrillators).
Theyre also trained to give cardiac medications.
If there are other people around, point to a specific person and make eye contact with them.
In a clear voice, tell them to Call 911.
If someone else is around to help, you might switch after youve done 30 compressions.
Do You Have to Do Mouth-to-Mouth CPR?
Rescue breathing is when you breathe air into a persons mouth to give them oxygen.
When Should You Not Do CPR?
If someone is conscious and breathing, they dont need CPR.
There are also some specific situations when you should not have a go at give CPR.
The first is when it would put you in danger.
Can Kids Get CPR?
Kids and babies can receive CPR, butthe technique is a little differentthan it is for adults.
If you do CPR training, it’s possible for you to get certified in infant and child CPR.
If a child or baby goes into cardiac arrest, call 911 right away.
Another situation is when a person would notwantto get CPR.
This is called ado-not-resuscitate (DNR) order.
you could also learn other life-saving skills like First Aid.
Many workplaces and community first response teams also may offer CPR training.
American Heart Association.CPR facts and stats.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Cardiac arrest - causes and risk factors.
American Red Cross.Heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest differences.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.What Is cardiac arrest?.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Cerebral hypoxia.
2023;148(10).
doi:https://doi.org/10.1161/cir.0000000000001125
BMJ.Patients overestimate the success of CPR.
