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.
