"Hands Only" CPR for Adults Gets the OK
Children Benefit from Compressions and Breaths
by Kathy Pinkava, RN
April 04, 2008
The American Heart association has given the OK for "hands only" CPR for adults. CPR is only given to people who unexpectedly collapse, are unresponsive and are not breathing. CPR circulates the blood and oxygen in the victim's body until advanced medical care is available. This greatly increases the victim's chances of survival and minimizes disability.
The Ohio Good Samaritan Act protects bystanders that try to help by providing CPR. EMS/911 always needs to be called.
The basics of hands only CPR for adults are:
*Call 911/ EMS! If you are alone, make the call and grab any available automated external defibrillator (AED). Have someone else do it if they are there.
*Use the AED per the automated directions if available. For CPR, push hard and fast on the middle of the victim's chest- hard enough to make the chest depress and recoil with each compression. Aim for 100 compressions per minute. Keep it up until EMS arrives.
Children are more likely to collapse due to breathing problems rather than heart problems. They need to have one minute (six cycles) of 30 compressions to 2 breaths traditional CPR. This should be done even before calling EMS/911 if you are alone.
Adults that would benefit from traditional CPR are those that have suffered a lack of oxygen from circumstances such as drug overdose, drowning, carbon monoxide or smoke inhalation.
Any CPR is better than no CPR when it is needed. It is always better to feel that there is something that you can try to do to help in an emergency. You might save a life!
Check www.americanheart.org for more information.
