Six ways to perform CPR in an emergency

Six ways to perform CPR in an emergency

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, otherwise known as CPR, is a procedure done when a patient’s heartbeat has stopped. It includes a quick assessment of the patient and carrying out chest compressions and rescue breaths.

According to health experts, it is a skill not only for doctors or health workers but for everyone.

The British Heart Foundation noted that when a person is in cardiac arrest their heart stops pumping blood, which means their brain gets no oxygen.

“Without CPR, the person will die in minutes. CPR keeps the heart pumping blood around the body until emergency help arrives,” it added.

According to the American Red Cross, CPR can help save a life during cardiac arrest, when the heart stops beating or beats too ineffectively to circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs.

It stated that with a half-million cardiac arrests each year, CPR increased the likelihood of surviving cardiac arrest, when the heart stopped beating or beat too ineffectively to circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs.

The ARC stated, “It is not just for healthcare workers and emergency responders. CPR can double or triple the chance of survival when bystanders take action.

“CPR should be used when you see someone who is unresponsive and is not breathing or only gasping. Having more bystanders trained in this simple skill can help save lives by putting more cardiac arrest victims within a few steps of lifesaving assistance.”

Medical experts have, however, noted that administering CPR is only an emergency stopgap and in itself not sufficient. They agreed CPR is done only to keep the person in cardiac arrest alive until help arrives.

In a series of conversations with our correspondent, a health specialist, Dr Joseph Ajibade, and a community doctor, Tosin Agbaje, shared how anybody can perform CPR during an emergency.

Here are six ways you can administer CPR and give someone in a medical emergency a chance of survival:

Check for danger

Before administering CPR, the person who has volunteered to do so should ensure that the environment is safe.

This, a health specialist, Dr Joseph Ajibade, said meant checking for any potential hazards such as fire, traffic, or electrical wires that could pose a risk to the rescuer or further injure the victim”.

Agbaje said if the scene was confirmed to be unsafe, it was important to move the victim to a secure location safely without causing additional harm.

Check for response

Once the area is deemed safe, the next step is to check if the victim is responsive. This, according to the health expert, involves assessing the victim’s consciousness either by speaking loudly or gently tapping the victim’s shoulders.

“Speak loudly and clearly as you gently shake their shoulders. For instance, gently tap the victim’s shoulder and ask loudly if they are okay. Look for any signs of movement or listen for any sounds indicating consciousness. If there is no response, it is crucial to proceed with urgency,” he added.

Call for help

It is advised that before starting CPR, you should contact the emergency responders or have someone inform them of the emergency.

Ajibade said, “If the victim is unresponsive, immediately call for emergency medical services or direct someone else to make the call if bystanders are present. Provide the dispatcher with precise information about the location and condition of the victim.”

The expert added that if there are no bystanders and you are alone with the victim, it is important not to leave the victim, but continue with the next steps until help arrives.

Open the airway

At this stage, you should be ready to conduct the CPR. The procedure starts with a proper positioning of the victim’s head which experts believe is very crucial.

Explaining how this can be done, Ajibade said, “Carefully tilt the victim’s head back and lift their chin to open the airway. This position helps prevent the tongue from blocking the air passage.

“Check for breathing by placing your ear close to the victim’s mouth and nose, looking for chest movements, and feeling for breath on your cheek.

“Look for any visible obstructions in the mouth or throat and remove them if it is safe to do so.”

Check for breathing

After opening the airway, it is advised to check whether the victim is breathing normally by leaning close to their mouth and nose. Begin chest compressions immediately if there is no breathing.

“Observe the victim for about 10 seconds. If the victim is not breathing or only gasping, begin CPR immediately. If they are breathing normally, place them in the recovery position and monitor their condition until emergency services take over,” the doctor added.

Give chest compressions and rescue breaths

Ajibade said occasional gasping is not considered effective breathing. So, if the victim is not breathing normally, begin CPR with chest compressions immediately.

The last process according to him and Agbaje is to press the chest of the victim and blow into their mouth. This process should be continued until the victim shows signs of breathing or emergency responders arrive.

The combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths, according to the experts, help provide oxygen to the lungs and circulate oxygenated blood throughout the body. They said this process was crucial in providing effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Explaining this crucial process, Ajibade said, “Position yourself beside the victim. Place the bottom part of your hand that is near the wrist on the center of the victim’s chest, interlock your fingers with your other hand, and keep your arms straight. Press down hard and fast.

“After 30 compressions, give two rescue breaths by pinching the victim’s nose, putting your mouth over theirs, and blowing in until you see the chest rise. Continue with another 30 compressions and two breaths until professional help arrives or the victim shows signs of life.”

Performing CPR promptly and correctly is a critical life-saving technique that can make a significant difference in an emergency. However, remember to stay calm, act swiftly, and follow the guidelines with care and precision to maximise the victim’s chances of survival and recovery.

Proper CPR execution can greatly increase the likelihood of a victim’s survival. If you are untrained, medical experts recommend that you perform only chest compressions until help arrives.