CPR: Knowing the lifesaving basics

My high school girlfriend’s 76-year-old husband suffered 5 life-threatening incidents recently. The former Chicago gym teacher had suffered a pulmonary embolism causing his heart to stop 5 times. Thank goodness he was in a medical facility at the time and was rescued at each of the occurrences through the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This lifesaving technique, known to most of us as CPR, is extremely useful when someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. Here then are Mayo Clinic’s (June 2018 Health Letter) recommended BASIC steps you can take to help save a life:

1. Call for help

Call 911 or emergency medical help before beginning the cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If needed, have someone else do the calling. The dispatcher can instruct you while you are waiting for assistance.

2. Don’t attempt rescue breaths

Mayo Clinic informs that, in most cases, it is unnecessary to do mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths. Chest compression alone is just as effective. However, traditional CPR using rescue breaths (as found in Red Cross directions) is recommended with infants, children, or anyone experiencing a drug overdose, a drowning, or breathing difficulties.

3. Begin chest compressions

After placing the victim face up on a solid surface, kneel next to the person’s neck and shoulders. With the heel of one hand over the center of the person’s chest, place your other hand over the heel. Compress the chest of the patient between 2 and 2.5 inches using your upper body weight. Press fast and hard at a rate per minute of about 100 to 120 compressions.

4. Follow a strong beat

Choose an up-tempo song to hum or sing to yourself (for example:  the Bee-Gees “Stayin’ Alive”) as you perform the compressions to the song’s beat.

5. Use a defibrillator

Located in Sun City’s fitness areas, an automated external defibrillator (AED) can provide the victim with an electric shock for restoration of his/her heart rhythm. When prompts are available with the unit, follow them to deliver one shock. Next resume CPR until the person regains consciousness or help arrives.

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