Health Guidelines 1
CPR
2013, 6‐27 JJustad, MD, DDP
The Importance of CPR
CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) is a technique used to keep victims of
sudden cardiac arrest and other emergencies, alive and to prevent brain damage
until more advanced medical professionals arrive. The goal of CPR is to keep
oxygen flowing in and out of the lungs and to keep oxygenated blood flowing
through the body. This will delay tissue death.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest:
Sudden cardiac arrest is not the same thing as a heart attack. This can often be
a confusing concept.
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Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart abruptly stops pumping
due to an interruption of normal heart impulses.
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A heart attack is the final stage of heart disease which is the slowing
and then stopping of blood flow to the heart muscle.
Survival:
Circulating blood that contains oxygen is required to keep tissues in the body
alive and functioning. The brain may sustain damage after blood flow has been
stopped for about 4 minutes. There is irreversible damage to the brain after blood
flow has stopped for 7 minutes. To be successful, CPR should be started within 6
minutes of a person having a sudden cardiac arrest. Low body temperatures
(hypothermia), seen in near-drownings and exposure to the cold, prolong the time
that the brain can survive.
The incidence of sudden cardiac arrest is 50 to 100 per 100,000 people.
Survival of sudden cardiac arrest is quite low, overall between 1% to 6%. If
someone starts CPR immediately, the survival rate is 6% but if no bystander starts
CPR and it is only started when the ambulance arrives, the survival rate drops to
only 2%.
Recognition:
Early recognition of cardiac arrest is a key step in initiating early treatment.
After witnessing a person collapse, or coming upon an unresponsive person:
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Assess the area quickly to make sure it is safe to approach the person
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Confirm unresponsiveness by tapping the person on the shoulder and
shouting something such as “are you OK?”
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If no response, call for help, and initiate chest compressions.
•
Do not delay chest compressions if a pulse cannot be felt within 10
seconds.
