CPR for adults and children

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing  with chest compressions to circulate oxygen around the body while waiting for further emergency help. CPR does not normally restart a person's heart but when it is combined with early emergency help, early defibrillation (whereby a brief electric shock is given to the heart), and early advanced hospital care, it has saved many lives. Ribs may be broken during CPR but this is preferable to dying.

GIVING CPR.  After providing the initial rescue breathing, you need to check the circulation to see if the heart is effectively pumping blood, and therefore oxygen, around the body. Look, listen, and feel for breathing, coughing, movement, normal color, or any other sign of life for not more than 10 seconds. If there are no signs of circulation, or you are at all unsure, start chest compressions. These must be given with the victim lying on his back on a firm surface.

CHEST COMPRESSIONS

1. With your lower hand, locate one of the bottom ribs. Slide the fingers of one hand along the rib to the point where the rib meets the breastbone. Place one finger at this point and the finger next to it above it on the breastbone. Place the heel of your other hand on the breastbone and slide it down until it reaches your index finger. This is the point at which you should apply pressure.
2. Place the heel of your first hand on top of the other hand and interlock your fingers. Lean well over the casualty and with your arms straight, press down vertically and depress the breastbone  one-third of the depth of the chest, which on an adult is 4-5 cm.
3. Release the pressure without losing contact between your hands and the breastbone. Compress the chest 30 times, at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. Compressions and release should take an equal amount of time.

COMBINING CHEST COMPRESSIONS WITH RESCUE BREATHS. Chest compressions circulate blood to the vital organs such as the brain. To ensure that this blood contains oxygen, you need to combine chest compressions with rescue breaths.

     After 30 compressions, tilt the head, lift the chin and give 2 effective breaths. Continue until:

• Emergency help arrives.
• The casualty shows signs of circulation.
• Somebody can take over from you if you are exhausted.

IF THE CASUALTY VOMITS

The combination of being unconscious with no muscle tone to hold in the stomach contents, air possibly being blown into the stomach through rescue breaths, and compressing the chest may result in the casualty being sick. He or she will often have lost the reflex that causes gagging so the vomit may stay at the back of the throat or come into the mouth. This must be cleared promptly:

• Roll the person towards you, supporting the head.
• Open the mouth and sweep out any vomit with two fingers.
• Turn the person on to his back and start the ABC process again.

You may wish to use a face shield when giving rescue breaths but not having one should not stop you performing CPR. You could give breaths through a handkerchief.

CPR FOR CHILDREN AND BABIES
If a child or infant has no pulse and is not breathing you will need to give CPR (cardiopulmonary respiration) to enable the body's vital organs to continue functioning. After giving the initial rescue breaths, check the circulation to see if the heart is effectively pumping blood, and therefore oxygen, around the body. Look, listen and feel for breathing, coughing, movement, normal colour or any other sign of life for no more than 10 seconds. If there are no sign of circulation, or if you are at all unsure, start chest compressions. This must be given with the child lying on their back on a firm surface.

CHEST COMPRESSIONS FOR CHILDREN
These techniques broadly apply for a child between one and 7 years old. However, you should take into account the size of the child when deciding whether to use the techniques for children or infants.

1. Place the heel of one hand on the lower half of the breastbone. Lean well over the casualty and with your arm straight, press vertically down and depress the breastbone one-third of the depth of the chest.
2. Release the pressure without losing contact between your hands and the breastbone. Compress the chest 30 minutes at rate of 100 compressions per minute. Compressions and release should take an equal amount of time.

COMBINING CHEST COMPRESSIONS WITH RESCUE BREATHS FOR CHILDREN. Chest compressions circulate blood to the vital organs such as the brain. To ensure that this blood contains oxygen, you need to combine chest compressions with rescue breaths. The procedure is the same as CPR for an adult but the chest compressions are not as forceful and the rate of breaths and compressions is different. After 30 compressions, tilt the head, lift the chin, and give one effective breath. Continue this cycle of CPR. Do not  interrupt the CPR sequence unless the child makes a movement or takes a breath on her own.

Continue until:

• Emergency help arrives and takes over.
• The child shows sign if circulation.
• You become so exhausted you cannot carry on. (Try to find someone to take over until medical help arrives.)

CHEST COMPRESSIONS FOR BABIES

These techniques broadly apply for a baby under one year. However a large baby may require the techniques for a child and a small child may be better with the techniques for baby.

1. Place the two fingers of one hand on the lower half of the breastbone. Lean well over the baby and with your arm straight , press vertically down and depress the breastbone one-third of the depth of the chest.
2. Release the pressure without losing  contact between your hands and the breastbone. Compress the chest 30 times at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. Compression and release should take an equal amount of time.

COMBINING  CHEST COMPRESSIONS WITH RESCUE BREATHS FOR BABIES. Chest compressions circulate blood to the vital organs, and to ensure that this blood contains oxygen, chest compressions need to be combined with rescue breaths.

     After 30 compressions, lift the baby's chin and give one effective breath. Continue this cycle of 30 compressions to one effective breath. Do not interrupt the CPR sequence unless the baby makes a movement or takes a breath on her own. Continue until:

• Emergency help arrives and takes over.
• The baby shows signs of  circulation.
• Somebody can take over from you if you are exhausted.

WHEN TO CALL FOR HELP. With children and babies, the heart is most likely to stop because of problems with breathing. Therefore, if you are alone and have to call for an ambulance yourself, you should give two minutes of CPR before leaving to make the call. This will ensure that oxygen has been circulated around the body, the most effective treatment for breathing problems. If the child is small enough, you may be able to carry her to the phone with you. Try not to leave the child unattended. If the infant recovers at any time, stop performing CPR but monitor the breathing and circulation rates until medical helps arrives.

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Written by Unknown

Frederick Luneta is a 24-year old guy and he is a Computer Engineering student and a young part time blogger. Currently lives in the Philippines. He knows a lot about computer.