Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure that combines chest compressions with artificial ventilation in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures can be taken to restore a heart rhythm. It is most commonly used in cases of cardiac arrest when the heart has stopped beating and is no longer pumping blood to the brain and other vital organs. CPR is also used to help prevent death following a heart attack.
When CPR is performed correctly, it can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival. The American Heart Association recommends that everyone learn CPR, as it can be the difference between life and death in an emergency. Unfortunately, many people in the United States today aren’t trained to administer CPR. As a result, the odds of someone surviving a cardiac arrest outside of the hospital are very low. However, with more training and skills, cardiac arrest victims stand a greater chance of survival because someone could be there to save them.
Fortunately, there are only a few simple steps that you need to remember in order to perform this life-saving procedure. As a result, training is easy, and certifications are available to those who pass the test. From online courses to in-person classes, there are numerous ways to get CPR first aid certification. CPR training is quick and easy and could help you save a life. Let’s take a closer look at the importance of CPR.
CPR Saves Lives
CPR is the best way to revive someone who has stopped breathing or whose heart has stopped beating. When CPR is performed correctly, it can double or even triple a person’s chances of survival. It is estimated that more than 300,000 people suffer cardiac arrest in the United States every year, and CPR can help increase the chance of survival for some of these people. When someone has a cardiac arrest, their heart stops beating, and CPR can help to keep the person alive by providing oxygen to the brain and heart until emergency medical services arrive.
Health studies have found that bystander CPR can increase a cardiac arrest victim’s odds of survival by four times. The standard survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is only about 10 percent. However, the survival rate among patients receiving CPR is nearly 45 percent.
Every Minute Counts
When people are untrained or minimally trained in CPR, most assume that they’re better off stepping aside and waiting for professional medical help to arrive. However, this is a critical mistake that could cost a life. This is because every minute counts when someone is in cardia trouble. For every minute that a cardiac arrest victim goes without CPR, their chance of death increases by 10 percent.
Considering that medical professionals take an average of four to 10 minutes to respond to an emergency, this time period could be the most crucial. According to statistics, assuming that professional support can arrive in just four minutes, the victim’s prognosis will have dropped by 40 percent. Additionally, it may be too late if it takes 10 minutes for medics to arrive. Life-saving CPR can buy the victim some much-needed time during those critical minutes and drastically increase their chances of survival.
CPR Protects from Brain Death
The heart stops pumping blood to the brain and other vital organs during cardiac arrest. As the blood flow decreases to the brain, the victim falls unconscious. As a result, the brain can suffer damage after three minutes without proper oxygen and blood flow. If this goes on for longer than nine minutes, there is often irreversible damage without blood flow to the brain. When CPR is performed correctly, it can keep the blood flowing to the brain and increase the chance of survival. Without CPR, the victim might be able to be revived by medical professionals, but brain damage could result in the person never regaining consciousness.
Overall, the importance of CPR cannot be overemphasized. In the event of an emergency, knowing how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation can mean the difference between life and death.
