Medically reviewed by Being able to respond to cardiac arrest can mean the difference between life or death when a person is involved. There is also an increased possibility, by twice or thrice, of survival of an individual through the help of a bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
In America, cardiac emergencies are a major killer. Nevertheless, even simple skills of life support such as CPR can help the bystanders to greatly increase survivors.
Understanding Cardiac Arrest: When Every Second Counts
Cardiac arrest is a phenomenon that is important in saving lives in emergency situations. A cardiac arrest is a very serious healthcare problem whereby the heart stops pumping effectively.
What is Cardiac Arrest?
A cardiac arrest can be described as a situation in which the heart functions is disrupted causing stop in the flow of blood and provision of oxygen to body vital organs. It does not involve a heart problem with the heart beating, but at a lower efficiency.
Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack
A heart attack happens when blood supply to some of the heart muscles is stopped, and cardiac arrest is when the heart itself stops beating altogether. Whereas cardiac arrest may result due to a heart attack, the two are not similar diseases in that different interventions are needed at an immediate level.
| Condition | Description | Immediate Response |
| Cardiac Arrest | Heart stops beating | CPR and AED |
| Heart Attack | Blood flow to heart blocked | Call 911, rest, and medication |
The Critical Survival Window
The longer the time, the lesser the chances of survival by the victim of a cardiac arrest. Time is of the essence in this kind of situation and the sooner you give CPR the higher this doubles or triples the chances of survival of the person in question. There is a very narrow window of effective intervention, which is why this has to be done in time. Being aware of these factors of cardiac arrest can make a bystander have confidence that they can step up and probably save a life.
The Power of Bystander Action
In the event of cardiac arrest being the culprit behind dying, the difference between life and death may be made by the actions of the bystander. Survival improvements can be made drastically by making immediate interventions with CPR.
Doubling or Tripling Survival Chances
CRP may increase the survival of a victim by twice or even thrice. The investigation shown that the survival rate of victims of cardiac arrest will be high when bystanders (trainee or otherwise) administer CPR.
The Bystander Effect: Breaking that Hesitation
Although this could be beneficial in many situations, a lot of bystanders fail to act out of fear or uncertainty. CPR Education may enable a person to push out this hesitation and do what is important at the right time.
Good Samaritan Laws
Good Samaritan laws in the United States protect bystander CPR providers and other people who try with good intentions of aiding a person in need.
| State | Good Samaritan Law |
| California | Provides immunity from liability for individuals who provide voluntary emergency care. |
| New York | Protects individuals who act in good faith to provide emergency care from civil liability. |
| Texas | Offers legal protection to those who provide emergency care in a reasonable and prudent manner. |
Recognizing Cardiac Arrest
The most important thing in the survival of cardiac arrest is early recognition and treatment. Cardiac arrest occurs when a person suffers a cardiac arrest, that is, their heart simply stops beating properly, which causes unconsciousness, and subsequently, death, unless properly addressed.
Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis of cardiac arrest implies identifying its symptoms and signs. Some of the common indicators are:
- Sudden collapse
- Change of consciousness
- A breathing or abnormal breathing (gasping)
- No pulse
The list of these indicators of cardiac arrest can make you respond without hesitation.
Responsiveness Checking
The initial procedure in the process of assessing an individual after cardiac arrest would be to test responsiveness. Be calm and shake the person to check whether they are alright. Failure to respond requires emergency medical attention at once.
Evaluation of Breathing Patterns
The next step is to check the breathing of a person and after this, check on the responsiveness. In case they are not breathing or gasping, it is a symptom of heart arrest. Proper assessment entails audition to listen to current breathing sounds as well as feeling the tunnels of air in your cheeks. When you are not certain, the best thing you can do is initiate CPR techniques.
Knowledge of first aid in cases of heart attack and cardiac arrest will go a long way in saving lives. Heart attack may cause cardiac arrest, but they are not attributed to one another. It is important to be able to recognize the signs and act fast as it can be lifesaving.
The Critical First Step Call 911 Immediately
When you observe cardiac arrest, do not hesitate and dial 911. This first-line response can put the victim in touch with emergency medical services (EMS) and thus is important in terms of providing the victim with a greater chance of receiving survival. To call 911, it is crucial to be levelheaded and to give clear data.
When and How to Call the Emergency Services?
The first thing that you need to do in case you notice an individual that has gone into cardiac arrest is to call 911. In case you are alone with the victim, call 911 first before proceeding to CPR. When you have a companion, call one person, and the other one can start with CPR. Use a cell phone or landline to call and make sure that you have a good connection.
What Information to Give?
In calling 911 you shall be ready to provide the following details:
- The address as well as the nearest cross streets where the emergency is.
- The description of the situation that this person is having a heart attack.
- Any other details related to it including the number of people accompanying the victim.
- Be attentive to what the 911 operator is saying and do what he or she instructs.
Speaker Mode in Your Phone
Once you have made 911, put your phone on speaker mode. It is because of this that one may go on with the CPR since they do not have to hold the phone thus enabling them to perform CPR and follow any instructions by the operator without holding the phone.
Steps of CPR in Cardiac Arrest: A Step-by-Step Guide
CPR is a crucial life-saving procedure whose mastery can increase the chances of survival among victims of the cardiac arrest. When a person is in cardiac arrest, the heart suddenly quits beating well, and a person may not breathe normally or has no regular breathing patterns. Time is of the essence
Posing of the Person
When initiating CPR he or she is supposed to lie down on his back on a flat and hard surface. This stance assists in the successful provision of chest compressions. Provided the individual is on a bed or some soft surface, make attempts to transfer him or her onto the floor or a hard surface.
Hand Placement for Effective Compressions
Effective chest compression requires proper placement of the hands. Rest the heel of one palm in the center of the person’s chest at the lower half of the breastbone. Your other hand should be placed over the first hand and your fingers should be interlaced. This posture will assist in making sure that compressions are effective and deep.
Compression Depth and Recoil
Effective CPR depends on the depth of chest reliefs. American heart association suggests between the adults and children different levels of characteristics of compression depths.
Adult Compression Depth
In adults, the compression depth is recommended no more than 2.4inches (6 cm) and no less than 2inches (5 cm). This depth assists in avoiding excessive pressure on the chest and internal organs that may result in damaging the heart as it is compressed.
Child Compression Depth
In children, the depth of compression corresponds to a proportion of approximately 1/3 the depth of the chest or approximately 2 inches (5 cm) in most children. In babies it is approximately 1.5 inches (4 cm). It is crucial to adjust the depth of compression with regard to age and size of a child.
| Age Group | Compression Depth |
| Adults | At least 2 inches (5 cm) but not greater than 2.4 inches (6 cm) |
| Children | About 1/3 the depth of the chest, or about 2 inches (5 cm) |
| Infants | About 1.5 inches (4 cm) |
Hands Only CPR: The Simplified Approach
The American Heart Association suggests the use of Hands-Only CPR because it is simple and effective when used to save lives in the event of cardiac arrests. Such an approach has transformed the response of strangers to emergencies, and all it takes is anyone to step up.
Why Hands-Only CPR Works?
The Hands-Only CPR deals with chest compressions entirely, leaving out rescue breathing as an objective. The rationale behind this practice is the idea that it is important to sustain the blood flow when the patient has a cardiac arrest. This means more individuals will have the power to take action by streamlining the process.
Advantages of Hands-Only CPR
- Easy training, which is associated with people learning and memorizing easily.
- More involvement of bystanders because of less complexity.
- An effective remedy during the initial few minutes in case of a heart attack, which is most important in survival.
Two Simple Steps That Saves Lives
Hands-Only CPR is quite easy to perform as it consists of two steps:
- Dial 911 or your local emergency number as fast as you can.
- In the middle of the chest of the individual push hard and fast to the rhythm of a song that has 100-120 bpm.
It is that easy. These steps will greatly increase the possibility of survival of a person who has had a cardiac arrest.
When to Use Hands-Only CPR vs. Traditional CPR?
As adulthood and teenagers, we should use Hands-Only CPR in case we collapse all of a sudden. In children and individuals under the age of 1, or situations of a cardiac arrest caused by a respiratory issue (like drowning), conventional CPR (with rescue breaths) remains recommended.
It is vital to know when to apply Hands-Only CPR or regular one. It is always better to be safe than sorry and initiate CPR when you are not sure. It depends on being decisive.
To sum it up, Hands-Only CPR is another effective mechanism of cardiac arrest. It is a very basic and useful art a person cannot do without. You can make the difference between life and death by learning the Hands-Only CPR in case of an emergency.
To Your Rhythm: 100-120 Compressions Per Minute
According to the recommendation of the American Heart Association, one needs to administer CPR with a compression rate of 100-120 beats per minute. It is important to maintain this rhythm in order to reach optimal effect of CPR. You can then utilize different techniques to keep your compressions in rhythm to assist it in achieving this rate.
Songs to Perform CPR To
Among methods that help achieve proper CPR rate, chest compressions to the beat of some particular songs can be mentioned. Music can help a great deal in maintaining the rhythm.
Stayin Alive by Bee Gees
This is one of the renowned disco music which has a beat that is almost similar with the recommended rate of the CPR and may prove as the best to stick to the right beat as one administers the chest compression.
Crazy in Love by Beyonce
And with its high tempo rhythm, the song, Crazy in Love can also assist you in setting the tempo of your compressions to the correct frequency so you will not go beyond the recommended compressions per minute of 100-120.
Hips Don Lie by Shakira
This cheerful song is one more track that can assist you to remember the right CPR rhythm and make the process more interesting and assist you not to get distracted.
Using Metronome or CPR App
Force of habit Can you listen to music when using the CPR technique to help you through the process? Does it work better, or again, does it not help you at all? If you have taken any other CPR class, maybe you would feel comfortable using a metronome or downloading a guidance app regarding CPR. Such instruments can assist one to keep the recommended CPR rate by following a steady beat.
Employing these strategies, you will be able to perfect your approaches to CPR and ensure resuscitation is possible. Developing the rhythm is one thing that every person aspiring to master this life-saving activity needs to do whether he or she is taking a CPR training program or practicing on his own.
Advanced CPR Techniques and AED Use
In addition to the basic CPR, more advanced practices and machines are available that can significantly improve the possibility of saving a life in case of a cardiac emergency. The knowledge and implementation of such advanced procedures can transform the results of cardiac arrest victims.
Traditional CPR with Rescue Breaths
Traditional CPR is composed of chest compression and rescue breathing. This procedure is especially significant in cases of victims who are either under water or in a cardiac arrest caused by respiratory problem. Rescue breaths are important in supplying oxygen to the blood to prevent any brain damage and increase chances of survival.
Using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable machine that detects and analyzes the rhythm of the heart and in case it is irregular an electric shock or defibrillation is given to help the heart reset to an efficient rhythm. AEDs are made to be operated by non-medical personnel, which is why they are such an useful tool in such places like community centers and in response to emergency situations.
CPR in Special Circumstances
CPR methods are different and they may depend on the age of the victim, the condition of the victim and so on. It is vital to understand these distinctions as far as successful CPR is concerned.
Pregnant Women
In pregnant women, CPR must be done with woman having her back elevated and the manual displacement of the uterus to the left which helps to amplify the circulation.
The Child and Infants
CPR of children and infants includes changes in the depth of the compression and frequency of the compression. In babies the proportions are 30:2 through single rescuer ratio and the depth of the compression will be approximately a quarter of the depth in the chest.
Elderly Individuals
In the case of elderly individuals, CPR is to be carried out carefully, with factoring in of any possible frailty and osteoporosis that can dictate the risk of having the ribs fractured.
| Population | CPR Adjustment | Consideration |
| Pregnant Women | Manual uterine displacement | Improve blood flow |
| Children and Infants | Adjusted compression depth and rate | Consider age and size |
| Elderly Individuals | Cautious compression | Risk of rib fracture |
Conclusion
By acquiring CPR, one can be able to save the lives of the cardiac arrest victims as he or she can perform the procedure much faster. Being able to give the signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest, as well as knowing how to respond, you can become a savior in someone’s life.
To advance the level of saving lives, you can consider going to CPR certification or trainings. These programs help you to acquire the skills and confidence you need in order to administer CPR and basic life support when circumstances are like an emergency.
It is the skill and ability to react that can increase the chances of survival of a victim by twice or even three times. Therefore at your earliest convenience, find out how to save a life via CPR.
FAQ’s
Q1. How many chest compressions per minute should we give in cases of CPR?
American Heart Association suggests that the rate of chest compression be 100-120 compressions each minute.
Q2. What is the distinction between cardiac arrest and a heart attack?
Cardiac arrest is the one that happens when the heart stops beating abruptly but a heart attack is when the heart does not receive blood so the heart muscle is damaged.
Q3. Can I administer CPR to another person without any qualifications?
No, not everyone needs to be trained to do CPR, but training can give you skills and the ability to do so safely and successfully. Moreover, the Good Samaritan laws shield the people involved in offering reasonable help on good faith.
Q4. What is the depth of chest compressions in CPR on adults?
In adults, at least 2 inches and not more than 2.4 inches deep chest compression should be done.
Q5. Is it possible to use Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on a child?
Yes, however, a pediatric AED or AED with the pediatric pads can be used. Otherwise, apply the available AED, in accordance with the instructions of the device.