CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is a critical technique that can restore the heartbeat by continuous compression and breathing techniques. The CPR procedure can help an individual to survive a cardiac arrest during an emergency.

Every individual, especially medical students, should learn CPR to handle critical situations until professional medical help arrives. With DocTutorials, you can cover all the aspects of CPR in detail through high-quality study materials and video recordings.

Read on to learn the steps of CPR, its guidelines, mistakes to avoid while performing CPR, and more. The well-explained CPR techniques will also help you get a brief idea about our teaching methods!

What is CPR?

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a process to restore the heart functioning of a person who has had a cardiac arrest. It involves compressing the chest so the heart can pump blood and return to a regular rhythm. The CPR procedure also involves breathing oxygen into the victim’s mouth to increase the oxygen level in their body and help blood blow to the crucial body organs.

You should remember the CAB order while performing CPR. Here: 

• “C” stands for chest compression 
• “A” represents airway; you need to open the victim’s airway 
• “B” stands for giving rescue breaths to the patient.

How to Prepare for CPR?

Here are the steps to prepare for a CPR procedure:

• If a person gets cardiac arrest before you and starts collapsing, ask loudly if they are alright
• Call for medical aid immediately if the individual does not respond
• Get an AED (automated external defibrillator) from someone who is nearby
• Keep the person lying on their back and tilt their head back
• Get closer to the individual and try to listen if the heart is beating
• Check for the chest going up and down and whether the person is breathing or not
• Touch the individual’s neck to check if there is pulse
• If you cannot find a pulse, CPR must be performed immediately

What are the Different Types of CPR?

Following are the four main CPR types:

• Hands-only CPR

This type is also called compression-only CPR. In this process, you don’t need to provide rescue breaths; it only involves chest compression. This technique includes continuous compression of 100-120 per minute.

• Standard CPR

It involves combining both chest compressions and rescue breaths. In each cycle, you need to perform 2 rescue breaths after 30 chest compressions. This procedure is also known as the traditional CPR method. 

• Hands-only CPR with an AED

In this process, AED or automated external defibrillator devices are combined with hands-on CPR to give an electric shock to the individual’s heart suffering from cardiac arrest. You can continue with the hands-on technique until the AED is ready.

• Paediatric CPR

As the name suggests, this CPR technique is used when the victim is a child or infant. You need to provide 15 compressions after 2 rescue breaths in each cycle.

How to Perform CPR for an Adult: Steps to Follow

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a vital skill that can save lives in emergencies by providing essential life support. Here’s how to perform CPR effectively:

Step 1: You need to assess the scene to check if the area is safe before approaching the individual.

Step 2: Check for their response by gently tapping the patient and asking if they are okay. Look for signs of movement or response.

Step 3: If you find the person unresponsive, immediately call emergency services.

Step 4: Open the airway by tilting the patient’s head back and lifting their chin.

Step 5: Listen and feel for breaths by placing your ear near the patient’s mouth and observing chest movements.

Step 6: If the patient isn’t breathing, start compressions. Place one hand on top of the other, interlock fingers, and keep elbows straight.

Step 7: Perform 100-120 compressions per minute, depressing the chest at least 2 inches and allowing it to recoil fully between compressions.

Step 8: After 30 compressions, provide two rescue breaths. Pinch the nose, seal the mouth with yours, and give a one-second breath. Continue cycles until help arrives.

Following these steps, you can provide critical care until medical professionals arrive. Remember, CPR is a lifesaving intervention that requires practice and confidence to perform effectively.

How to Perform CPR for a Child?

The CPR procedure for a child is almost the same as that of an adult. Here are some of the essential things to consider:

• Provide 2 rescue breaths and then 30 cycles of chest compression.
• For small children, avoid using two hands for chest compression; only one is enough.
• In the case of infants, use two fingers for chest compression instead of hands. Make sure the compression is 1.5 inches only and not 2 inches like adults.
• The rescue breath process for infants is also different from that of adults. Here, you need to gently seal the infant’s nose and mouth with yours and puff air to provide rescue breath.

What are the American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for CPR?

The American Heart Association (AHA) updates its CPR guidelines every five years to reflect the latest scientific evidence and improve survival rates from cardiac arrest. As of the latest updates, the AHA emphasises the importance of high-quality chest compressions and minimising interruptions during CPR. 

The traditional 30:2 ratio of compressions to breaths remains standard for adults. However, there is a growing trend towards continuous chest compressions (CCC) before intubation, which may eventually replace traditional CPR with Cardio-Cerebral Resuscitation (CCR) in some settings.

Key points from recent guidelines include:

• High-Quality Compressions: Ensure compressions are at least 2 inches deep at a rate of 100-120 per minute.
• Minimising Interruptions: Keep pauses in chest compressions to a minimum to maintain blood circulation.
• Technology Integration: Utilise devices like CPR feedback tools and mobile apps for real-time guidance.

What are the Mistakes to Avoid While Performing CPR?

Performing CPR effectively requires avoiding the following mistakes as they can reduce its effectiveness or even cause harm:

• Not Calling for Help Early

If you fail to call emergency services promptly, it can delay professional medical assistance.

• Incorrect Hand Placement

If your hand placement is not correct, the CPR will not be effective. Hands should be placed on the centre of the chest, between the nipples, with fingers interlaced.

• Inadequate Chest Compressions

If the right sets of chest compressions are not provided, the heartbeat will not be restored even after CPR. You should give chest compressions at least 2 inches deep for adults at a rate of 100-120 per minute.

• Interrupting Compressions

If you keep pausing between chest compressions, blood flow to and from the heart cannot be normalised. Minimise pauses between compressions to maintain continuous blood flow.

• Not Tilting the Head

If the head of an individual who has had cardiac arrest is not tilted correctly, the airway will not open. Ensure proper head tilt to open the airway before giving rescue breaths.

FAQs About CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)

1. What are the advantages of providing CPR?

CPR keeps blood circulating, preventing organ damage during cardiac arrest.

2. What needs to be done after providing CPR?

After CPR, the person is sent to a hospital. Healthcare providers assess for organ damage, determine the cardiac arrest cause, and provide necessary treatment. Many survivors initially remain in a coma.

3. Can CPR be fatal?

CPR is beneficial even if not performed perfectly, as it helps cardiac arrest victims, potentially improving survival chances with proper technique.

4. How will you understand whether the CPR is effective or not?

CPR is effective, even if the technique is not perfect. Look for chest rise during rescue breaths as a sign of effectiveness.

5. Can a person’s ribs get broken due to CPR?

CPR can sometimes break ribs due to the force required to compress the chest and circulate blood throughout the body.

Conclusion

CPR is a crucial method that can save lives during emergencies like cardiac arrest. By learning the proper compression and breathing methods, you can restore the heartbeat of an individual who has had a heart attack. For healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their skills or medical students who need to learn about CPR for their MBBS syllabus, DocTutorials offers comprehensive resources. It includes expert-led videos and case-based discussions. By enrolling in our classes, you can learn more about the CPR procedure and provide critical care until medical help arrives.