Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a medical technique used on people whose heart has stopped or whose lungs are unable to fulfill their oxygen requirements. There are three types of CPR: adult, child and pet CPR. CPR is taught to health care professionals, but it can also be a part of the curriculum for laypeople. CPR saves lives, and it provides the victim with oxygen until emergency personnel are able to reach her.
Adult CPR
Adult CPR is the most popular form of CPR training. This prepares the individual for an emergency situation in which a patient is in cardiac arrest or is unable to breathe on his own. The technique uses a mouth and chest procedure. The person giving CPR breathes into the mouth of the victim, and then presses on the right area of the chest that assists the heart in pumping blood. It's important for the CPR giver to know the right area of the chest to avoid damage to the ribs or lungs. It's also important to know how to avoid damage to the organs and how to apply the right pressure on the chest to avoid harming the patient.
Child and Infant
Child and infant CPR is slightly different than adult CPR. A child's chest and rib cage is more brittle and susceptible to damage, so the CPR giver needs to be more gentle when applying the technique. Child CPR still provides oxygen to the patient by breathing into the mouth. Child CPR needs to be applied when a child or infant stops breathing, which can be more difficult to detect than with adults. Infant CPR training certifies the student to practice CPR on patients up to 12 months. Adolescent CPR training gives students the knowledge to practice on patients up to 12 years of age.
Pets
Pet CPR is a newer form of the resuscitation techniques. This technique was developed after pet owners were rendered helpless when their dogs or cats stopped breathing, and they were unsure of how to deliver oxygen while bringing the pet to an emergency hospital. Pets receive CPR similar to humans, but it's more difficult to detect a pet's breathing patterns. A pet's anatomy also makes it more difficult to deliver CPR since the nasal passages and mouth are structured differently. The heart position and ribs are also slightly different than a human, which is why pet CPR is beneficial for pet owners who may need to deliver oxygen to animals.
