CPR. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Definitely good man knowledge.
This is really something everyone should know – and chances are you were taught at some point – but have probably forgotten since. No problem – here’s a crash course (excuse the pun) which you will hopefully never have to use – but will be eternally grateful if you do (as will your subject – if you do it correctly) .
Step 1: Where possible make sure you and the victim (and anyone else for that matter) are out of danger. All your effort will be in vain if you are still in a burning building collapsing around you. Get the victim to somewhere safe where you can perform CPR uninterrupted.
Call or have someone call the emergency services. No brainer – you’ll need some back up. While CPR can prevent death, there was probably a reason the victim stopped breathing and the chances are you wont be able to do too much for these injuries without some help from the professionals.
Step 2: Check for breathing and pulse.
Position the victim on his back but without putting any pressure on their head or neck (so as not to exacerbate any spinal injuries). Check for breathing. If you cannot feel exhalations or see the victim’s chest rise and fall, or condensation on a mirror, the chances are that they’re not breathing.
Check the airway to make sure there’s no blockage. If the airway is clear and the victim is still not breathing, check for a pulse by feeling the veins in the victims wrist or neck. Ordinarily this should not be difficult to find – so if you cant find it there is no pulse and you will need to perform CPR to attempt to restart the victim’s stalled breathing and circulatory systems.
Step 3: Open their airway.
To begin CPR, tip back the victim’s head and hold their chin up and away from the neck to open the airway.
Step 4: Deliver two rescue breaths.
While holding the victim’s head, pinch their nostrils shut, and breathe into their mouth. Deliver two slow and long breaths. Keep a close seal between your mouth and the victim’s to ensure that your breaths do their job in inflating the victim’s lungs.
Step 5: Check for breathing and pulse again.
Place your face close to the victim’s face. Can you hear breathing? Does his chest rise or fall? Can you detect a pulse? If there has been no response to the rescue breaths you will need to perform chest compressions.
Step 6: Perform chest compressions.
Locate the victim’s sternum (the font bit of the rib cage where your ribs meet, above the diaphram), and measure two finger widths from the bottom of the sternum toward the victim’s head. This is the spot where you will perform chest compressions. Thread your fingers together and lock your elbows, then using your body weight compress the victim’s chest 1.5 to 2 inches (3.8-5 cm) in depth. Compress 15 times over a 10-second duration, but being careful not to push too hard which can break the victim’s ribs.
Step 7: Deliver two more rescue breaths.
Following the first cycle of chest compressions, deliver two more slow and long rescue breaths, and check again for breathing or pulse.
If there is no sign of either breathing or a pulse you should continue the entire cycle of compressions (15 per 10-second duration) and rescue breaths (two per duration) until the victim has either started to breathe on his own or when medical help has arrived. If you’ve completed four complete cycles without signs of life, the victim may require use of a cardiac defibrillator or other measures to jumpstart his arrested heart.