Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, CPR
I love learning new things, especially those things that are positive, edifying and serve a purpose for humanity. I had an opportunity to take a basic life-saving class this past week in order to renew my CPR certification which was out of date by at least 20 years. My, how things have changed! As we head into the weekend, I would like to share a little bit about the history of CPR and some of the basics for those of you who may think you are not capable of learning the basic skills behind saving a life. I would also encourage you to find a location where CPR training is given and take advantage of learning this life saving technique, you may never know when you could save a person’s life.
The history of cardiopulmonary resuscitation as we know it today got its start in 1960 as CPR was first developed and shared with physicians as a method to revive unresponsive patients who had stopped breathing and had no pulse. Since 1960, modifications and improvements have been introduced as the science of saving a life has improved. The CPR of today is quite different than the CPR of when I was first learning about it as a kid in the 1970’s. Today, CPR involves a rescuer giving chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 times a minute and if the rescuer is able to, 2 breaths via mouth-to-mouth after every 30 compressions, (this is the basic life-saving act of CPR). Though developed in 1960 and endorsed by the American Heart Association in 1963, the pieces of the CPR puzzle started more than 200 years earlier. The Paris Academy of Sciences officially recommended the use of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for drowning victims in 1740. The first documented use of chest compressions for the purpose of saving a life was done by Dr. Friedrich Maass 151 years later in 1891. These ideas were brought together in 1960 and have been used to great effect in saving thousands of lives over the past 57 years. The American Heart Association has been the champion of CPR as CPR is the best first treatment for those who have suffered a cardiac arrest (which is different from a heart attack). Cardiac arrest is where the heart develops an irregular heart beat and can suddenly stop whereas a heart attack is caused by a blockage of a blood vessel to the tissue of the heart causing damage to the tissue of the muscle, if the blockage is large enough then too much tissue is damaged and the heart stops. This is why CPR is so effective as a first response to the patient, the chest compressions keep the blood flowing to the heart and to the brain in order to keep the tissue alive until either the heart goes back into its normal rhythm or is shocked back into its normal rhythm. Time, speed and effective communication are all critical elements in executing CPR and the more trained persons that can help during an episode, the higher the probability of a successful outcome for the patient’s survival and recovery.
As we head into the weekend before Valentine’s Day, take time to look up CPR either at the American Heart Association’s web page or just google CPR to read more about this fascinating subject…you may be surprised at what you learn. Have a great weekend everyone and be safe out there, take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.
Wm Reid
Best Home Care Services
325 N Eastern Ave
Connersville, IN 47331
765-827-9833
wmreid@bhcshealth.com