Please call 911 immediately if you are having chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, sudden weakness or numbness, or if you think you have a medical emergency.
Guidelines for CPR and Automated External Defibrillators
Cardiac arrest, which often leads to a heart attack, is frighteningly common: every minute of every day there is another victim, according to the American Red Cross. Almost 80% of cardiac arrests occur at home and are witnessed by a family member. Would you know what to do if someone you loved experienced a cardiac emergency? Make sure you're prepared -- take a CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) class and get trained to use an automated external defibrillator, or AED. It could mean the difference between life and death.
What Is an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)?
The automated external defibrillator is a computerized device used to restart a heart that has stopped beating, or is beating too quickly to create a pulse. Defibrillators work by shocking the heart back into action.
Many public places, including airports, casinos, gyms, malls, and sporting venues, have defibrillators on hand in case of emergency. In the past, only trained medical professionals were able to use defibrillators. However, today's new automated external defibrillators can be used by anyone.
When to Use CPR: Recognizing an Emergency
The first step in saving a life is being able to recognize an emergency. Know the warning signs of a heart attack. Anyone who is unresponsive should receive emergency care. If you are with someone who complains of chest pain and then collapses, odds are he or she is having a heart attack or is in cardiac arrest. Call 911 immediately, and then begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR.
CPR Step by Step
CPR should be used when a person stops breathing and his heart has stopped beating. CPR keeps oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and heart until a defibrillator or emergency team arrives to get the heart beating normally. When started immediately following cardiac arrest, CPR can double or triple the victim's chance of survival.
Here is how to do CPR for an unresponsive person 9 years and older:
- Immediately call 911 and locate a defibrillator, if available. Don't be deterred if you don't know how to perform CPR: 911 operators are trained to walk people through the steps over the phone.
- After you have called 911, start CPR immediately. Remember the ABC's:
- A - Airway: Open the victim's airway. To open an airway, tilt the head back and lift the chin.
- B - Breathing: Once the airways have been opened, check for breathing. Look for chest movement, listen for air flowing through the mouth or nose, and feel for air on your cheek. If the person is not breathing, start rescue breathing. To do this, gently pinch the person's nose closed and put your lips around the person's mouth, making an airtight seal. Give two slow breaths (about two seconds per each breath) supplying enough air to make the chest rise.
- C - Compressions: Follow the two breaths with 30 chest compressions. Place the heel of your hand in the middle of the victim's chest at the nipple line. Put your other hand on top of the first with your fingers interlaced. Push hard and fast, pressing the chest down about 1 1/2 to 2 inches. Allow for complete chest recoil between compressions. Keep compressions constant and equal - it should take the same amount of time to press down as it does to release the compression.
- Repeat rescue breaths: Open the airway with head-tilt and chin-lift again, and continue to give two breaths followed by 30 compressions. Repeat breathing and compressions for about two minutes.
- Recheck breathing: If the victim is still not breathing, continue giving CPR (two breaths; 30 compressions) until either the person starts breathing or help arrives.
- Use an automated external defibrillator, if available. Attach it to the victim after approximately one minute of CPR and follow the instructions supplied by the defibrillator. (Most machines are programmed to talk you through the process, or a 911 operator can assist you.)
Hot Topics
- What You Need to Battle a Cold
- Sinus Issues? Get Personalized Advice
- Quit Smoking Without Pigging Out
- Feeding Your Baby: What to Expect
- 12 Ways to Play With Your Baby
- Why Is My Baby Itching?
- Natural Ways to Fuel Your Workout
- Depression Treatment: 10 Benefits
- The Truth About Serotonin
- Foods to Boost Your Mood
