Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): Saving Lives
1. Understanding CPR
CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a vital technique employed when someone ceases to breathe. Learn about its significance:
1.1 The Heart's Role
Your heart is a remarkable organ responsible for pumping oxygenated blood throughout your body. Discover how it functions:
- The right-hand side of your heart sends blood to the lungs for oxygenation.
- Oxygenated blood returns to the left-hand side of the heart.
- From there, it's distributed through arteries, capillaries, and organs.
- Deoxygenated blood returns to the heart through veins, completing the cycle.
1.2 Heart's Electrical System
Understand the heart's electric signals and its ability to contract:
- Electric shocks generated within the heart's pacemakers cause muscle contractions.
- These contractions are responsible for the heart's rhythmic beating.
- Blockages or disruptions can impair blood flow or lead to cardiac arrest.
1.3 Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)
In emergency situations, around 85% to 90% of cases involve VF, an abnormal twitching of the heart:
- During VF, the heart quivers, failing to pump blood effectively.
- CPR aims to maintain oxygen-rich blood circulation throughout the body.
- Reviving the heart requires a defibrillator and, sometimes, medications from paramedics.
2. Performing CPR
CPR may seem complex, but the technique is straightforward and can be a lifesaver:
2.1 Check for Breathing
You don't need to assess the heart's activity; simply determine if the person is breathing:
- If no breathing is observed, initiate CPR immediately.
- CPR's primary goal is to sustain oxygen supply to vital organs.
Remember, the heart's restart is achieved through a defibrillator or medical intervention. CPR keeps oxygen flowing until help arrives.