What is CPR? What You Need to Know

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, commonly referred to as CPR, is a lifesaving action taken when a person’s heartbeat or breathing has stopped. It allows blood and oxygen to continue reaching the brain and other critical organs until emergency medical personnel arrive. Knowing this lifesaving talent is outstanding and easy for anyone to learn. Let’s consider what it is, why it is essential, and how it is performed.

What does CPR do?

Any case in which the heart and breathing stops is termed cardiac arrest. People can suffer severe brain damage in minutes and even die without immediate assistance. CPR helps keep the victim alive by manually pumping blood to the organs and providing respiration to take oxygen into the lungs. This buys time for professional medical help to arrive.

How is CPR done?

The two primary components of CPR are chest compressions and rescue breaths. Each is crucial in maintaining life and supporting the victim until advanced care becomes available.

• Chest Compressions are hard, fast pushes on the center of the person’s chest. They act like the heart pumping and help the blood move through the body.
• Rescue Breaths: After each 30 chest compressions, you should give the person two rescue breaths, which will get oxygen into the lungs, which the body requires.
  

When Should You Perform CPR?

It should be done when a person is not responding to anything, breathing, or having no pulse. What situations call for CPR would include accidents related to drowning, heart attacks, choking, serious injury, or anything else that makes a person fall short of breathing, as the timing of seconds counts in every scenario.

Essential steps before starting CPR:

• Check if the casualty is unresponsive by shaking and asking, “Are you okay?”.
• If the person is unconscious but not responding, check for breathing.
• Call for emergency medical help before starting CPR, or have someone else call while you begin CPR.
  

Why is CPR Important?

CPR can save a lot of people, as it can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival. A person with cardiac arrest may die in just a couple of minutes if not assisted with CPR. It is recorded that fast and quick CPR, mainly when immediate bystanders perform it, increases survival rates abnormally. Even doing chest compressions alone without formal training can be very effective.

Myths about CPR

Some people might not attempt CPR because they fear doing it wrong or causing further harm. Here are some common myths about CPR:

• Myth 1: CPR is for professionals only. Anyone can learn CPR, even the basic one, to save lives.
• Myth 2: I might hurt the person when I perform CPR. It is always better to do something than nothing at all. Without CPR, there is no chance of life whatsoever.
• Myth 3: I need a special mask to give breaths. While it is excellent to have a mask, you can still perform effective chest compressions without giving rescue breaths if you are uncomfortable giving them.
  

How Can You Learn CPR? 

Learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation is easy, with courses in various disciplines offered through the American Heart Association and Northwest Career College. Most classes take only a few hours and involve instruction and hands-on practice. When you learn CPR, you will be prepared to act in an emergency and help save a life.

Conclusion:

In this case, CPR knowledge forms the thin line between life and death. On time, with chest compressions or rescue breaths, a person can be saved from death. In learning CPR, you are part of the solution in life-threatening situations.|

Enroll now at Northwest Career College today!

At Northwest Career College, we have job-oriented training programs to our credit, including CPR certification. Our accomplished educators will give you practical learning that helps you develop the necessary skills. We’ve been helping thousands of students excel professionally since 1997 and are ready to help you, too. Be part of the Northwest Career College family today!