Tuesday, June 11, 2013

{Healthy, Wealthy, & Happy Living in Omaha}



New Hands-Only CPR Is Easy, Saves More Lives 

An adult suddenly collapses in front of you.  Will you feel helpless or know what to do to save his or her life?  You’ll be glad to know that the American Heart Association has simplified things so anyone can save a life. This new CPR method doesn’t require certification or mouth-to-mouth contact but can double the chance of survival.* 

Don’t worry about hurting the person.  If they’ve stopped breathing, you can only help them.  Good Samaritan laws protect you from legal risk.  It’s better to break a rib than stand by in fear of not doing the right thing.  Here’s how to use continuous chest compression CPR to save lives:

1.                  Call 911.  Tell them your location and that someone is not breathing.
Lay the person on their back on a hard surface.
2.      Place the bottom your palm in the center of the person’s chest with your other palm on top of it.
3.      Lock your elbows and put your shoulders directly above your hands in the center of the person’s chest.  Use your entire upper body to force the chest cavity downward.
4.      Push HARD in rapid repetitions.  When you compress the chest with quick forceful motion, the recoil of the person’s body allows the heart to continue pumping blood.  With blood circulating, the brain gets what it needs and your action can keep the person alive.
5.      Maintain the pumping action at a rate of 100 times per minute until paramedics arrive.  It’s best to have a second person to take turns with you to keep up the pace.  The beat from the song Staying Alive by the Bee Gees is about the speed you need.
6.      Do not stop to check for breath or a pulse.  Keep compressing the chest until help arrives.

To watch a short video that demonstrates this easy method, go to the American Heart Association’s website at: www.handsonlycpr.org.  *Conventional CPR (with your mouth) may be better than Hands-Only CPR for infants and children, or teens and adults whom you did not see collapse.

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