CPR

What is it? 
CardioPulmonary Resuscitation, that's CPR to most of us. You can learn all about it across the web. The American Heart Association is a great resource and sets the standards. They also create many of the training courses you might attend. The reason this is the first skills post in this blog is that it is, in my opinion, the #1 thing everyone in the world should know how to do!

Why do it? 
First, let's be clear; CPR is unlikely to restore someone's heart beat to normal. It is really designed to keep the blood moving to the rest of the body, especially the vital organs, like the heart, lungs, and brain. As an EMT in a 911 contract area I performed CPR...I don't even recall, certainly over 20 times. I only once recovered a normal heartbeat through compressions. However, the technique allowed the successful application of other techniques, such as defibrillation, that has a much better chance of restoring a standard heartbeat. The earlier you receive CPR in a cardiac event, the better chance you have of survival. That means you could very easily be the difference between someone living and dying. In a way, it makes you a bit of a superhero!

How did I learn it? 
In Scouts, we had to learn CPR as part of the First Aid Merit Badge. I kept it up every few years after that point until my involvement in our company Trauma Team while employed at a textile mill. That experience led me to become an EMT, which is where I actually put that learning into practice.

How do you learn it?  
Take a class! Often times you can find cheap classes near you either sponsored by community groups, fire departments, or even your employer. If you haven't taken one in a while, consider doing so. Things have changed considerably over the past decade, including a change of compressions to breaths and, in many classes, instruction in the use of the AED, or Automatic External Defibrillator. As more and more AEDs pop up in public places, their very simple yet effective use makes it even more likely someone will survive a cardiac event.

What else can you tell me that may not be common knowledge?
When in class for the Trauma Team, our instructor stated, "If you ever have to do this in the real world, you may feel and hear a cracking." This cracking is the breaking of ribs. Yes, it happens. A lot. In fact, if you do compressions on an adult, it is pretty much a guarantee. In the times I performed CPR, I recall exactly three in which ribs did not break. The first as a 2 month old baby. Next was an 11 year old boy. The only adult I performed CPR on where I didn't break ribs was when the person in question had already broken most of them in an auto accident (this also was the one time I recovered a standard rhythm with compressions.) Certainly you need to worry about using too much force in compressions, especially when your blood is pumping with excitement, but it is always good to be prepared for the cracking of ribs to happen.

If you can handle it, volunteer for your local fire department or ambulance to gain experience. If not, make sure you renew often, as during an emergency you will fall to the level of your training, not rise to the level of your knowledge. In other words, if you aren't used to doing it, if it isn't ingrained, you might freeze.

Always call 911 first, or have someone do it. CPR is exhausting, you don't want to do it by yourself for long. Getting emergency personnel on scene ASAP is always your top priority.

Next time we'll focus on something less gruesome, I promise. In the meantime, go take a class!