CPR: Separating Fact From Fiction

CPR: Separating Fact From Fiction

Some 70 percent of Americans either don't know or have forgotten how to administer this lifesaving measure (and I wouldn't be surprised if this stat was similar in Australia and elsewhere around the world).

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is an emergency procedure performed on a person who has no pulse or is not breathing as a result of cardiac arrest.

The maneuver combines chest compressions with rescue mouth-to-mouth breathing to keep oxygen-rich blood circulating in the body until the heart resumes pumping. In addition to calling 911/000 for help and getting an automated external defibrillator, bystander CPR is one of the most important early responses in cases of sudden collapse and loss of consciousness due to cardiac arrest. Ample evidence shows that CPR can save lives and improve neurologic outcomes in survivors.

Yet, the American Heart Association estimates that some 70 percent of Americans either don't know or have forgotten how to administer this lifesaving measure.

Most cardiac arrests occur among acutely ill, hospitalized patients, but of cardiac arrest cases that occur outside the hospital, the vast majority strike at home. So learning CPR can save a loved one's or a stranger's life.

There are several persistent misconceptions that discourage many people from learning CPR. Here are some of the most common CPR myths debunked.

Fiction: Cardiac arrest is the same as a heart attack.

Fact: The two conditions are not the same. A cardiac arrest is a sudden, unexpected cessation of heart function that occurs when there is an electrical disturbance in the heart that causes it to stop beating altogether or makes it quiver weakly and inefficiently, interrupting life-sustaining blood flow to the brain. A heart attack is caused by a blockage in blood flow to the heart muscle. While a heart attack could, in some cases, lead to cardiac arrest, they are decidedly not the same.

Fiction: People who need CPR are usually older and sicker.

Fact: This is definitely a myth, and a dangerous one. Cardiac arrest can strike anyone and everyone, regardless of age, gender or race. In fact, many victims of cardiac arrest have no history of medical problems.

Fiction: CPR for infants, children and adults is exactly the same.

Fact: Although the basic steps in adult and pediatric CPR are similar, there are nuances that are important to learn during a training course. For example, children require less forceful chest compressions and rescue breaths.

Fiction: Bystanders can be sued for performing CPR if they hurt the victim.

Fact: Wrong. While unintentional injuries, like breaking of the ribs, can occur in the process of administering a lifesaving maneuver, so-called Good Samaritan laws protect those who provide emergency medical assistance.

Fiction: Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is mandatory.

Fact: Not true. Rescue breaths should be given with a barrier device, but if one is not available, chest compressions alone can and should be performed. CPR that solely involves chest compressions can be just as effective as standard CPR. In fact, the American Heart Association has recommended chest-compression-only CPR for adults since 2008.

Fiction: CPR always works.

Fact: Sadly, far from it. The pop culture narrative of CPR, fueled by fictional portrayals in film and television, is that it invariably brings cardiac arrest victims back to life. In reality, the survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests is less than 10 percent. However, CPR could boost survival rate by up to 30 percent if the maneuver is started immediately and followed by electric shocks delivered with a defibrillator.

Fiction: CPR is only a matter of life-or-death.

Fact: There's more to CPR than bringing a person back to life. During a cardiac arrest, victims have minimal supply of oxygenated blood traveling to the brain, which could cause rapid brain cell death and irreversible neurologic damage. Cardiac arrest survivors with brain damage can suffer devastating injuries that leave them speechless or immobilized. In addition to saving lives, CPR can reduce the risk of neurologic injury or minimize its extent.

Fiction: CPR is like riding a bike. Once you learn it, you will never forget it.

Fact: Since it was first performed in 1740, CPR has evolved to keep up with new insights about human physiology. The steps and techniques have been updated as we learn more and more about how to improve survival. This is why taking recertification classes once every two years is so important.

Fiction: I can get certified by taking an online course or watching a video.

Fact: Videos and online modules are valuable resources that cover the basics of CPR and can reach countless people. One study even found that people who view CPR instructional videos are far more likely to attempt resuscitation. However, CPR certification and recertification require an in-person training session.

Fiction: There are only a handful of places to obtain CPR training.

Fact: Decidedly wrong. Because of CPR's critical importance, classes are offered widely and frequently. The American Heart Association and Red Cross websites list CPR training locations by geographic area.

Original article can be found here: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/articles/2015/07/08/cpr-separating-fact-from-fiction