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CPR
– What to do in an emergency
CPR is
performed to establish a blood flow when the human body’s
natural pump, the hart, is no longer able to perform this
function any more. Blood flow is essential to transport oxygen
and food to the necessary organs.
CPR
improves a victim's chances of survival. The critical concept
for quality CPR includes:
•
Push hard, push fast: compress rate of 100 compressions per
minute.
•
Allow full recoil after each compression.
•
Minimize interruptions after each compression; try to keep
interruptions to less than 10
seconds.
•
Avoid hyperventilation.
CPR
consists of four main concepts
•
Airway
•
Breathing
•
Circulation
•
De fibrillation
Chest
Compression technique
1.
Position yourself at the victim side.
2.
Make sure the victim is lying on his back on a
firm, flat surface.
3.
Remove all clothing from the victim’s chest.
You need to see the skin.
4.
Put the heel of one hand on the centre of the
victim chest between the nipples.
5.
Put the heel of the other hand on top of the
other hand.
6.
Straighten your arms and position yourself
directly over your hands.
7.
Push hard and fast. Press down 3 to 5
centimetres with each compression. For each chest
compression, make sure you push straight down on the
victim’s breastbone.
8.
At the end of each compression, make sure
you allow the chest to recoil or re-expand
completely. Full chest recoil allows more blood to refill
the heart between chest compressions. Incomplete chest recoil will
reduce the blood flow created by chest compression.
9.
Deliver compressions in a smooth fashion at a
rate of 100 compressions per minute.
Opening the
airway
1.
Place one hand on the victim’s forehead and push with
your palm to tilt the head back.
2.
Place the fingers of the other hand under the bony part of
the lower jaw near the chin.
3.
Lift the jaw to bring the chin forward.
Mouth-to-mouth
breathing
1.
Hold the victim’s airway open with a head tilt- chin
lift.
2.
Pinch the nose closed with your thumb and
index finger (using the hand on the forehead).
3.
Take a regular (not deep) breath and seal your lips around
the victim’s mouth, creating an
airtight seal.
4.
Give 1 breath (blow for 1 second). Watch for
the chest to rise as you give the breath.
5.
If the chest does not rise, repeat the head tilt-
chin-lift.
6.
Give a second breath (blow for 1 second). Watch for chest
rise.
Putting
it all together
1.
Assess the victims for a response. If no response, shout
for help.
2.
Open the victims airway and check breathing
(take 5 seconds
and no more than 10
seconds).
3.
If no adequate breathing, give 2 breaths.
4.
Check the victims pulse (take at least 5
seconds and no
more than 10 seconds).
5.
If you do not definitely feel a pulse, perform 5
cycles of
compressions and ventilations
(30:2 ratio).
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