Knowing How To Perform CPR Might Save A Loved One's Life
Bystander CPR saved the life of an almost-dead man, and this life-saving technique is not difficult to learn.
Knowing How To Perform CPR Might Save A Loved One’s Life
Bystander CPR saved the life of an almost-dead man, and this life-saving technique is not difficult to learn.
Bruce Brown was snorkeling in Florida when his heart stopped beating. After being pulled from the water, bystanders performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for 45 minutes. Since the brain can be permanently damaged without blood flow in just three to five minutes, this is an astonishingly long time to have no heartbeat.
Ultimately, an automatic external defibrillator (AED) was located, and the heart was restarted after electric shocks from the device. He recovered in a local hospital without serious brain damage and, after testing, was sent home.
Without an intrinsic heartbeat to create blood flow to his heart, brain, and entire body, CPR saved his life. According to the American Red Cross, high-quality CPR can triple a person’s chances of survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Every adult should learn how to do this.
Approximately 1,000 people in the USA suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) every day. That translates into one arrest every 1.5 minutes. Yes, it could be a stranger. However, it could also be a friend or member of your family, particularly if they already have heart disease.
What bystander CPR accomplishes is by manually pushing on the chest, helping blood to flow from a heart that is not beating. Ideally, the best immediate solution is to apply an electric shock to the outside of the victim’s chest with an AED. These easy-to-use devices have become more available in schools, gyms, airports, and public areas.
When I was in practice, I always advised spouses and other family members of my patients to learn the technique. Implantation of cardiac defibrillators (AICD) has made this less of an issue. However, what if your husband or wife already has heart disease? Their chances of experiencing an OHCA are higher than those of the rest of the population.
My former cardiology group required us to be periodically recertified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). There is no need for laypeople to learn this. Learning Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) is sufficient. BCLS teaches you how to recognize the signs of cardiac arrest and check for airway obstruction. They teach how to do chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (MTMR). However, due to the complexities of the latter, as well as hygiene concerns, it has been downplayed.
Thus, one-person CPR now focuses mostly on closed chest compressions, assuming the victim is not choking. Compressions are more important until other people and or EMS can arrive and take over resuscitation.
Personal Experience
I have had two occasions outside of the hospital where I have had to use my skills.
Many years ago, while at a gas station, a man was having a grand mal seizure. (GMS). I told the attendant to call 9-1–1. Then, I turned the man on his side in case he would vomit and prevent aspiration into his lungs. Ideally, a so-called “fit stick” is inserted into the victim’s mouth to prevent biting his tongue. I had nothing, and therefore I elected not to use my fingers.
I knew in most cases, a GMS is self-limiting and will stop after a few minutes. The victim had a pulse, and there was no need for CPR. Fortunately, the gas station was not far from a firehouse, and EMS arrived quickly.
The second incident was more consequential. We were out to dinner with one of my former partners and our wives. In the middle of the meal, we heard a commotion on the other side of the restaurant. The hostess knew we were doctors (from the reservation) and asked us if we could help out.
My partner and I locked eyes and immediately nodded yes. We followed a waitress to a table where a young man was sprawled on the floor and did not appear to be moving or breathing. I told the staff to call 9–1–1. We checked for airway obstruction, as it is the most common cause of cardiac arrest in a restaurant. A large piece of meat is usually the culprit.
Finding no obstruction, we checked for a pulse and found none. My partner began MTMR, and I started closed chest compressions. In an emergency, time seems to stand still, and it was hard to recall how long we had been performing CPR. However, it was probably no longer than a few minutes.
The young man, who was quite large, suddenly awoke and began thrashing about. We told him what had happened and tried to get him to lie still. We did not have to restrain him for long, as the EMS arrived quickly. We gave the team a brief report and then returned to finish our dinner.
A cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, anytime, and to anyone. Learning the simple techniques of CPR is a life-saving skill that you hope you never have to use. However, with one occurring every one to two minutes, you might.
Everyone should know how to do basic CPR?
It is a simple skill that can save lives, yet too few people are trained. Making CPR education a standard part of school and workplace training would empower more people to step in during emergencies, especially since cardiac arrests often occur outside of hospitals. Starting CPR lessons at a young age, even just an hour or two a year, can build lifelong confidence and readiness. It is a small investment of time with potentially life-changing outcomes.
Making this the norm could help create a safer, more responsive society.
At some point it seems reasonable to have an AED in your home so long as you are likely to have someone else there. I think the cost is now under $2,000.