Why You Should be Trained in CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, commonly known as CPR, is a lifesaving technique used when someone’s heart has stopped functioning in a manner that is conducive with life. CPR can help keep oxygen-rich blood flowing to a victim’s vital organs until further medical help arrives on scene. Being trained in CPR could help save a loved one’s life in an emergency situation. Here are some reasons why CPR training is important:
Saving Lives – The most important reason to learn CPR is that it can help save lives. When performed immediately after cardiac arrest, CPR can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival. For every minute CPR is delayed, the chance of survival decreases by 10 to 15%. Without any intervention, loss of breathing and heartbeat can quickly lead to brain damage and death within 4 to 6 minutes. CPR training provides you with the skills to intervene and help stabilize a victim until medical help arrives, potentially saving their life.
Ability to Help – Knowing CPR gives you the ability to help someone in need during an emergency. Without immediate intervention, lack of oxygen to the brain quickly causes brain cells to die. Just a few minutes of CPR can provide enough oxygen to the brain to prevent permanent damage until paramedics arrive with advanced life support. Many lives saved byCPR are people who collapse suddenly from cardiac arrest in public places. Having bystanders nearby who know CPR dramatically increases survival rates.
Peace of Mind – Being trained in CPR gives you the confidence and peace of mind of knowing you can help in an emergency situation. This can help reduce anxiety and feelings of helplessness during an emergency. You’ll also feel more prepared in case a cardiac emergency occurs with family members or friends. The confidence from CPR training can provide comfort knowing you have a skill that could make a lifesaving difference.
Pathophysiology of CPR:
When the heart suddenly stops beating effectively, the body is deprived of oxygen. Within minutes, cells throughout the body – especially in the brain and heart muscle – begin to die from lack of circulation and perfusion. Permanent damage and cell death accelerate rapidly without intervention.
During CPR, chest compressions squeeze the heart between the sternum and the spine, pumping blood to the major arteries and restoring a small amount of blood flow while the patient is in cardiac arrest. The mechanical ventilation provided by a bag valve mask then reintroduce oxygen to the bloodstream, which is carried to the body’s tissues during chest compressions. Together, this helps maintain some level of oxygen and nutrient delivery to vital organs – especially the brain – to prevent irreversible damage.
The sooner CPR is started, the better the chances of resuscitating the victim and minimizing organ damage. Even a few minutes of effective CPR can make a critical difference until paramedics arrive with advanced life support techniques like defibrillation and medications to restore the heart’s normal rhythm. But without any intervention, cardiac arrest leads to irreversible death within minutes.
Conclusion
CPR training provides you with a vital skill that can help save someone’s life in an emergency situation. Check out the link below on current CPR standards and best practices. If you live in Eastern Washington or the Spokane area, be sure to sign up for a CPR certification course through Response Ready Medical today! Are you Response Ready?
https://cpr.heart.org/en/resuscitation-science/cpr-and-ecc-guidelines