It is not necessary to remove a patient’s clothing in order to do chest-compression-only CPR. Do I have to remove a person’s clothes to do Chest-Compression-Only CPR or only when using an AED? If by some chance an object is lodged in the throat, effective compressions likely will dislodge the object, similarly to the way abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich Maneuver) dislodges objects. Assume it’s a sudden cardiac arrest and follow the 3 Cs: Check for responsiveness (shake and shout), Call 911 and Compress at a rate of 100 per minute, about 2 inches deep. If you see or hear someone suddenly collapse and they did not show any sign of choking, you don’t have to worry about checking the airway. Call for an AED if one is nearby and available.ĭon’t you need to check the airway first?.Begin uninterrupted forceful continuous chest compressions immediately.IF NO RESPONSE, call for help ('911') or ask someone else to call.Check for responsiveness (shake and shout).The correct response to a witnessed cardiac arrest is to: Rather than wasting time trying to detect a pulse that may or may not be the victim's own pulse, it is better to get perfusion to the brain by continuous chest compressions. Studies have also shown that even if a person manages to locate the correct spot for detecting a pulse, there is a high chance that the pulse they may detect is their own, especially considering heightened stress levels in such situations. Public lay rescuers cannot reliably detect the absence of a pulse in a timely fashion, hence in the 20 AHA CPR Guidelines (Circulation 2005 112(24): IV-3), this requirement was removed. Kern’s tenure as AHA National ACLS Chairman, the AHA came to the same conclusion. We do NOT recommend that lay public rescuers waste time trying to assess for a palpable pulse. It is better to perform a few unnecessary chest compressions for someone with a beating heart, rather than withhold chest compressions and circulation from someone in cardiac arrest. Therefore, they recommend following the 'Better safe than sorry' approach and begin chest compressions. According to these professionals, the chances that a bystander could harm a person by pressing on their chest are slim to none, even if the heart is working normally. The physicians and scientists at the Sarver Heart Center, have found that the old saying 'Never perform CPR on beating heart' is not valid.

Can you damage someone’s heart if you perform CPR while it is beating? To transfer chest compressions effectively, there must be less than a 10 second delay when trading off. What if I get tired during chest compressions?Ĭhest compressions are hard work and after 100 chest compressions or if you become fatigued, it is recommended that you switch chest comrpessions with someone nearby. Continue chest compressions until paramedics arrive gasping is a sign you are doing a good job. No! Gasping is a sign of cardiac arrest and often occurs for a while soon after the arrest and will continue when effective compressions are being delivered. Should I stop compressions if the victim gasps?

If this happens to you or you witness someone who exhibits these signs: call 911. Please check the following for more information:

Women are different than men and not all symptoms of a heart attack are universal.

Other symptoms may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, dizziness or light-headedness, “feeling of impending doom,” weakness/fatigue.

Shortness of breath may occur with or before chest discomfort.

This may include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body.

The discomfort may feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. The discomfort lasts for more than a few minutes or it may go away and come back. To preserve heart muscle, it's important to understand early heart attack symptoms: In the case of a heart attack, blood flow through one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked. While it is rare that a rib will be broken during CPR, doctors are able to repair broken ribs, but they cannot repair death. Studies have shown that there is almost no chance that you will hurt the person. If you do nothing, the person is likely to die. You need to get emergency responders on their way as soon as possible.

Tell someone to call 911 or make the call yourself.

If you have no response you should assume that the person has experienced cardiac arrest. This helps to determine whether the person had some other reason for the event or if they are indeed in cardiac arrest.

You then check for responsiveness by “shaking and shouting” (are you alright?) and rub the sternum with your knuckles.

The person is fine one moment and you suddenly see or hear them collapse.

How do you know if it’s primary cardiac arrest?

Chest compression rate