Suppose you are somewhere in a market or a public place and a person falls unconscious on the ground. You have often seen such videos on the internet where when a person falls unconscious on the ground, someone else saves his life by giving CPR. You also started giving CPR to the unconscious person without any delay. When the person regained consciousness, he was groaning. When he was taken to the hospital, it was found that his rib cage was fractured.
The doctor said that the unconscious person did not need CPR. It was just a normal unconsciousness. Due to giving CPR in the wrong way, his rib cage got fractured. Two months ago, a similar video was also shared by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav. In which a TTE was giving CPR to a 70-year-old man in a moving train. Usually such videos get praise, But Ashwini Vaishnav had to face a lot of criticism for this video. Many doctors even appealed to him to delete this video.
Every year 40-50 lakh people die due to cardiac arrest
According to a study published in ‘The Lancet’, about 5-6 lakh people die every year in India due to sudden cardiac arrest. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, 40 to 50 lakh people die every year due to sudden cardiac arrest all over the world. About 45% of people can be saved by giving immediate CPR in case of cardiac arrest. However, CPR given in the wrong way or at the wrong time can also pose risks.
When should CPR be given?
The full form of CPR is cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is a procedure in which the patient’s life can be saved by compressing his chest and giving mouth-to-mouth breaths. CPR is given when a person’s heartbeat or breathing stops. If someone around you suddenly falls down and his breathing and heartbeat stops, then he is in urgent need of CPR. There can be many such conditions when giving CPR to someone can save his life.
We must first understand whether a person needs CPR or not. Only then should this procedure be followed. The way the video of giving CPR in a train is going viral, giving CPR without need in this way can put the life of the person in front at risk.
- If someone suddenly collapses in front of you, ask the person loudly if he is okay.
- If he is not responding, immediately call 102 or ask someone else nearby to call an ambulance immediately.
- Ask people around you if anyone has an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). An AED is a medical device that can help return the heartbeat to a normal rhythm. This device is mandatory on all commercial flights. Many times people can also carry it with them because it is portable and does not weigh much.
- If the collapsed person is lying on their back, tilt their head back slightly.
- Get close to the person’s face and listen for 10 seconds to see if they are breathing.
- If you can’t hear breathing, listen to their chest for a heartbeat.
- Feel for a pulse by touching the side of their neck.
- If no pulse can be felt, give CPR.
The right way to give CPR
- You may have often read or heard that anyone can perform CPR. However, if a person has basic knowledge about it, he will be able to perform this procedure better. These CPR guidelines apply to people of all ages except newborns.
- If the person is not breathing, first make him lie on his back on a flat surface.
- Then place one of your hands over the other hand and place it in the middle of the person’s chest.
- If giving CPR to a child up to 8 years of age, use only one hand and place it just below the breastbone.
- Press the chest of the person with your hands while transferring your body force to his chest. Your pressure should be strong enough to create at least 2 inches of compression in the chest.
- During this, use the lower part of your palm and keep your arms straight.
- Keep pressing the person’s chest 100 to 120 times in a minute. During this, keep in mind that after every pressing, the chest is returning upwards to its previous position.
- People who have received CPR training can give two mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths after every 30 compressions.
- Continue giving compressions and rescue breaths until the person is no longer breathing or an ambulance arrives.
When should CPR not be given?
- As important as it is to know when to give CPR to a person when needed, it is also important to know when not to give CPR to someone.
- If the person is conscious.
- If the person is unconscious, but his breathing is going on and heartbeat is heard.
- If the person is able to move his hands, legs, head.
- If the person is screaming.
- If movement is visible in the person’s eyes.
- If ambulance or medical help has arrived.
- If you are extremely tired or are unable to compress your chest even 100 times per minute.