It is the artificial method of circulating
blood and oxygen through a body and attempting to keep the brain alive. CPR does work.
When initiated within four minutes, the survival rate is 43 percent. When initiated within
four to eight minutes, the survival rate is ten percent.
Why Learn CPR?
One in seven people will have the
opportunity to use CPR in their lifetime.
More than 650,000 people die annually from
heart attack in the United States each year.
More than 350,000 die before reaching the
hospital.
When the brain starts to go four to six
minutes without oxygen, brain damage/death begins.
On the average, it takes the Pasadena Fire
Department about four minutes to respond to the scene of an incident.
When CPR is needed, the Pasadena Fire
Department is the first to initiate it 85 percent of the time.
In the United States, there are 500,000
strokes a year.
In the United States, there are 6,000
drowning incidents a year and 3,100 incidents of airway obstructions a year.
Race - Blacks have a 45 percent greater
chance of high blood pressure
Age - risks increase with age, however, one
in four deaths occur under age 65.
Factors that can be changed:
Smoking one pack a day increases heart
attack rate two times over a nonsmoker and stroke rate five times over a nonsmoker.
Hypertension - (high blood pressure) is a
major risk factor but with no specific symptoms. One in three adults or 58,000 Americans
have high blood pressure controlled by diet, exercise and medications.
Diet - high fat, high cholesterol foods
cause plaque to collect on artery walls constricting blood flow.
Other factors
Obesity - obese middle aged men have three
times greater risk of heart attack.
Lack of exercise - regular aerobics exercise
at least three times a week.
Stress - A Type A personality, with a sense
of urgency, drive and competitiveness, has a greater risk.
Chest pain - can be an uncomfortable
pressure, tightness or feeling of indigestion, heavy squeezing pain like a weight on the
chest, can radiate to left arm and neck
Nausea/vomiting
Shortness of breath
Pale, sweaty cold skin
May have no signs or symptoms (silent
Myocardial infarction)
Actions for survival
Recognize signals
Stop activity, rest, lay down
If pain lasts more than two minutes, call
for help
Patient's having early signs often deny
having a heart attack
Be prepared to do CPR, if alone do CPR for
one minute, then call 9-1-1.
Four reasons to stop CPR
Patient is revived
You are relieved by another trained
individual
Become exhausted
Doctor is present and pronounces death
Prevention
Avoid smoking
Health diet (fiber, fruits, vegetables,
avoid junk foods)
Less TV, more exercise
Know and control blood pressure and
cholesterol level
The lungs function is to exchange carbon
dioxide for oxygen.
Room air is 21 percent oxygen, exhaled air
is 16 percent oxygen. All body organs and cells need oxygen to live.
During CPR, exhalation is due to normal
relaxation of the chest.
The heart is the size of your fist with two
separate halves (left and right heart). The right heart receives blood from the body and
pumps it through the lungs back to the left heart. The left heart pumps fresh oxygenated
blood to all body parts.
The heart beats 60-100 times a minute,
100,000 times a day and pumps five quarts of blood a minute or 1,800 gallons a day. Ninety
percent of the time, CPR will be done on a family member or close friend.
People do vomit and ribs do crack sometimes
during CPR.
Never do blind finger sweeps in the mouth on
anyone.
The victim should lie on a flat, hard
surface.
If you are alone, do CPR for one minute,
then call 9-1-1.
Health care providers and other persons
administering emergency aid are not liable. Any health care provider licensed or certified
to practice as such in this state or elsewhere or any other person who renders
emergency care at a public gathering or at a scene of an emergency occurrence gratuitously
and in good faith, shall not be liable for any civil or other damages as the result of any
act or omission by which person rendering the emergency care, or as the result of any act
or failure to act to provide or arrange for further medical treatment or care for the
injured persons, unless such person, while rendering such care, is guilty of gross
negligence.
If you are interested in learning CPR, call:
American Heart Association
(800) 242-8721
American Red Cross
(626) 395-7188
