What are true statements regarding Adult CPR?

Answer 1

True statements about Adult CPR include:

1. Anyone can learn how to do CPR.
2. You should be--but do not HAVE to be--certified to do CPR. Millions of people with no prior CPR instruction can perform some basic CPR with direction from a 911 operator.
3. You must ALWAYS call the person's name / tap their (1) shoulder FIRST. - The person could just be sleeping.
4. IF the person does not rouse, NOW is the time to call 911 or yell out "Call 911"
5. You must NEVER start CPR without FIRST checking (a) whether the person is breathing and (b) whether they have a carotid pulse.
6. If a person is NOT breathing, but DOES have a pulse, you SHOULD begin rescue breaths but NOT chest compressions. If you do chest compressions on a beating heart, you can stop the person's heart. However, if the heart is beating, but there are no respirations, without rescue breaths the heart will soon stop.
7. If not breathing, OPEN the airway. Turn your head so your ear is in front of the mouth and LISTEN for 10 seconds. Open the mouth, Pinch the person's nose closed and give 2 quick rescue breaths if the person is not breathing. If the chest does not rise, reposition the jaw to open the airway. If the belly rises but not the chest, the head position is wrong--the air is going into the stomach but not into the lungs. Stop, reposition the jaw to open the airway. Try again.
8. If your breaths do not make the chest rise and it is not going to the belly, open the mouth to see if there is an obstruction. Sweep the mouth with your index finger. *Do not remove dentures unless they are obstructing the airway.
9. Check carotid pulse. (Person can be fully dressed but it.) If no pulse, place one hand mid-sternum-- middle of the chest between the breasts/nipples. Put your other hand on top of the first hand and spread fingers of both hands so the top fingers fit between the fingers of the bottom hand. Straighten your arms; press down firmly at least 2 inches deep. Let chest rise between pressing down. Compressions need to be a ratio of 100 per minute. (So, about 30 pushes, counting 1 to 30.) Push hard; push fast.
10. Give two breaths, making sure the jaw/head is in the correct position. Watch for the chest to rise.
11. Keep a continuous cycle going of 2 breaths; 30 compressions (100 per minute). Check breathing and pulse to see if they have returned.

When can you STOP CPR?

1. The person is breathing on own and has a pulse.
2. Rescue personnel arrive-- police, firefighter, EMT, doctor, nurse, heath aide
3. The situation is unsafe for you or for the victim.
4. You become utterly exhausted -- but, you must realize that stopping CPR means the person will die.

CPR is physical work, but can keep a person alive until rescue arrives. They generally arrive in 1 to 7 minutes on average.

NOTE: Often, CPR can break ribs. Re-check your hand positioning each time you put your first hand (heel of hand) against the chest. But if you hear bones crack, and know your hands are positioned right, do NOT stop. It's better for the person to have broken ribs than for the person to die from lack of oxygenated blood being pushed into the organs and limbs. You are making O2 get into the lungs, so the lungs can expel CO2, and you are making the heart pump.

NOTE: If in an office, school, airplane, ask if they have a portable defibrillator. It will SPEAK instructions so the heart can be shocked back into a normal rhythm. But you may still need to do rescue breathing.

What about germs? What if you do not have protective airway?

Do CPR anyway. You may save a life.

What if the person vomits?

Sweep the mouth. Continue CPR.