External Chest Compressions
In conjunction with mouth to mouth ventilation.
A - Airways - Open and Clear
B - Breath for the casualty
If mouth to mouth alone is unsuccessful and the heart has stopped beating, you must perform - External Chest Compressions in conjunction with mouth to mouth ventilation.
C - Assisting CIRCULATION
NEVER START CHEST COMPRESSIONS EVEN IF THE HEART IS BEATING EVER SO FAINTLY.
Without the heart to CIRCULATE the blood, oxygenated blood cannot reach the casualty's brain. Some people may avoid this procedure because they may be unsure of where to apply the pressure and fear breaking the persons ribs - which can happen if done incorrectly, but better to have a broken rib or two than be dead. It's that simple. (see questions on this below)
Have a go - practice (pretend style) on your mate or lover and - who is it that says - BE PREPARED? - Oh yeah, it's us users innit! Well, here's how to perform it. In addition, at the bottom of this page there are some questions answered about doing CPR.
HOW IS IT DONE?
1) Lay the person on their back on a firm surface. Kneel alongside their chest - in line with the heart. Locate the Lower half of the breastbone; find the sternal notch at the top and the intersection of the rib margins at the bottom. Then place your thumbs midway between these two landmarks to find the centre. This is the spot to work on.
2) Place the heel of one hand on the centre of the lower half of the breastbone, keeping your fingers OFF the ribs. Cover this hand with the heel of your other hand and lock your fingers together.
3) Keep your arms straight and move forward until they are vertical (see pic 9). Press down on the lower half of the breastbone (it's about 11/2 to 2 inches in a normal adult). Move backwards to release pressure. Complete 15 compressions (at a rate of 80 compressions a minute). To find the right rate count aloud. Obviously the rate will be a little faster than 1 a second. Check the face colour and pulse after the first minute.
4) After the 15 compressions and the first pulse check, move back to the casualty's head and re - open airway (the head should remain tilted back throughout). Give two breaths of mouth to mouth ventilation.
5) Continue with 15 chest compressions again followed by two full ventilations. Check heartbeat every 3 minutes or 12 cycles of compression/mouth to mouth.
AS SOON AS A HEARTBEAT RETURNS - STOP COMPRESSIONS IMMEDIATELY.
Continue mouth to mouth alone then, until normal breath returns to the person. They may need casual assistance too breathe, so give it to them when necessary until help arrives. Place in recovery position (Fig 6) when satisfied that they are breathing normally.
Questions:
s it easier to break an overweight person's ribs or a skinnier persons ribs when performing cpr?
The weight of the victim has little to do with the chances of breaking a rib, instead the age of the victim seems to determine the fragility of the bones.
Can I kill someone if I do CPR incorrectly?
No. Remember the person in cardiac arrest is already clinically dead. CPR can only help. Even if it's not done "letter perfect" it will probably provide some benefit to the victim.
What if I crack a rib when I do CPR?
Frequently ribs are broken with the pressure CPR places on the sternum. Some studies quote up to 30% of cardiac arrest victims have broken ribs as a result of CPR. This happens more frequently the older the victim since the cartilage is less compliant and the bones more easily crackable. But remember, it's better to have a cracked rib than be dead.
