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The battle for life during cardiac arrest: How does CPR save lives?
Cardiac arrest is an emergency that everyone should take seriously. In thousands of cases every year, the tragedies that have occurred remind us that whether CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) can be taken in time will be directly related to whether the patient can get a second life. This emergency procedure is not just for medical professionals; it is an important skill that everyone should know and master.
The primary purpose of CPR is to maintain oxygen supply to the brain and heart until further medical measures can effectively restore circulation.
The basic process of CPR is designed to perform a series of chest compressions and artificial respiration for patients who are unconscious and unable to breathe. According to the American Heart Association, adults should perform chest compressions to a depth of 5 to 6 centimeters at least 100 to 120 times per minute. For those rescuers who are not professionally trained, current recommendations are to focus on chest compressions without necessarily providing rescue breaths.
If a person has no pulse but is still breathing, artificial ventilation may be needed, but generally untrained people should avoid checking for a pulse.
Cardiac arrest not only affects blood oxygen supply, but can also quickly cause damage to brain tissue within minutes. Research shows that after the heart stops the vicious cycle, if measures such as chest compressions and artificial respiration are carried out in a timely manner, the brain's chances of survival will be enhanced. Generally speaking, when blood circulation stops for more than four minutes, the brain will continue to be damaged, and various body tissues will undergo rapid cell apoptosis within up to two hours. Therefore, fast and effective CPR and early shock (defibrillation) are key elements in saving lives.
The goal of CPR is to delay tissue death and increase the chance of successful resuscitation.
In some cases, cardiac arrest may be caused by trauma or other reasons. Although CPR may be less effective in this case, the development of medicine has also made it part of standard rescue procedures. Rescuers can apply the CPR process according to various situations. For example, if the rescuer is alone with a drowning person or an unconscious child, he should give priority to CPR and wait two minutes before calling emergency services.
Current CPR guidelines were updated in 2010. From the previous "ABC" process (airway, breathing, circulation) to the current "CAB" process (circulation, airway, breathing). This change reflects the fundamental focus of CPR – ensuring effective chest compressions is a top priority.
Through continuous chest pressure, CPR can provide a certain supply of oxygen to the brain and create conditions for subsequent electric shocks.
CPR is more than simple chest compressions, it encompasses fresh breathing techniques, especially for those victims of respiratory suffocation or drowning. For CPR used on children or infants, the accuracy of breathing is required to be higher. For pregnant women, due to their physiological characteristics, rescuers should change their positions appropriately so as not to compress their internal elastic veins.
Even though many organizations today emphasize the importance of CPR, performing standard CPR on untrained individuals can be a challenge. This has also prompted countries to increase the popularization and promotion of CPR courses, so that the entire society can participate in this life-long battle against cardiac arrest.
The success of cardiopulmonary resuscitation lies in everyone being able to be the first rescuer.
Cardiac arrest is a race against time, and the implementation of CPR has become an important life-saving straw. During a first aid operation, the rescuer's calmness and decisiveness may change a life-or-death situation. When the moment comes when you can't breathe, are you ready to face the battle of life?
