Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, also known as CPR, is a set of basic emergency skills designed to help save a person's life when her heart has stopped beating or she has stopped breathing. The American Heart Association, or AHA, emphasizes the importance of CPR by stating that CPR, performed in an effective and timely manner, can double a person's chance of survival.
Function of CPR
The purpose of CPR is to provide critical body organs with oxygen-rich blood, according Medline Plus. CPR performs two basic functions: Chest compressions help maintain the circulation of blood throughout the victim's body to vital organs in the absence of a pulse, and rescue breathing, such as mouth-to-mouth, helps provide the victim's blood with oxygen in the absence of normal breathing.
Why Is CPR Important?
When a person stops breathing or his heart stops beating, his body organs no longer are receiving the oxygen needed to stay alive, and the tissues will ultimately begin to die. The most vital organ that must be protected is the brain; in the absence of a pulse or respirations, a person's brain will undergo permanent damage after only four minutes, according to Medline Plus. Performing effective CPR keeps the blood oxygenated and keeps the brain supplied with the oxygen it needs to stay alive and avoid damage.
Statistics
The AHA states that, in the absence of CPR, a victim's chance of survival drops 7 to 10 percent for every minute that lapses between collapse and medical intervention. Every year, there are 294,851 cardiac arrests treated outside of the hospital in the United States. About 80 percent of all cardiac arrests that occur out of the hospital happen in homes, which emphasizes the importance of all capable individuals being trained to perform CPR.
CPR Basics
The foundational elements of CPR build off three simple steps, made easy to remember by ABC. A stands for airway: After determining that the victim is unresponsive and calling for help, the initial step is to open her airway by tilting her head and lifting her chin. B stands for breathing: look, listen and feel for breathing, and provide two breaths if she is not breathing. C stands for circulation: check for a pulse. If it is absent, begin chest compressions, stopping every 30 compressions to give two breaths. CPR technique varies slightly for children and infants.
Certification
In order to be comfortable with your emergency CPR skills, it's important to take an AHA class. These are offered at many convenient locations and provide the training you need to respond and potentially save someone's life.
