CPR: Things Have Changed
By Lifesaver Education
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, was first conceptualized and demonstrated in the mid-1800s as a way to revive a patient after cardiac arrest (heart failure). It wasn't until the 1960s that our current model of CPR made its way into the annals of medicine, and thus into the hands of citizens, enabling all of us to be potential lifesavers. In 2010, the American Heart Association (AHA) modified its operations acronym from ABC - Airway, Breathing, Circulation - to CAB (Circulation, Airway, Breathing).
There are two ways a person can perform CPR: hands-only or with assisted breathing. Both methods can save a life if performed properly. It is recommended by the Mayo Clinic that only trained and confident practitioners of CPR attempt to assist another individual with breathing. Most of the time, performing hands-only CPR at the rate of about 100 chest compressions per minute until professional medical help arrives is enough to make a difference. Always remember to take the age and build of the sufferer into consideration. Only trained and current holders of a valid CPR certification course should attempt to do CPR on an infant or newborn.
The AHA has reported that more than 2/3 of cardiac arrest sufferers fail to receive CPR. Part of this problem is caused by witnesses that are afraid to attempt to help, for fear of getting sued or hindering the situation further. The fact is, if someone is in cardiac arrest, even performing chest compressions can save their life - and can hardly hurt them. Many states have Good Samaritan Laws - laws that protect those that try to assist people in need of medical attention.
It is important to learn CPR; it is estimated that even the hands-only, compression-only form of CPR can double or triple the odds of survival of the sufferer of a heart attack. Possessing the ability to save the life of a person in need, especially if that person happens to be a loved one, is invaluable. A CPR or EKG certification class is not very long, nor very expensive, and is always worth it. Find a Los Angeles CPR Class by visiting Lifesaver Education.
Sources
http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/first-aid-cpr/FA00061/METHOD=print
http://handsonlycpr.org/
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/CPRAndECC/WhatisCPR/CPRFactsandStats/History-of-CPR_UCM_307549_Article.jsp
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/CPRAndECC/WhatisCPR/CPRFactsandStats/CPR-Statistics_UCM_307542_Article.jsp
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