12 Days of First Aid Tips: CPR
There are so many magical things about Christmas; the excitement of children as they wake up and Father Christmas has been, carol singers, twinkling lights on the tree and snowfall - if we’re lucky enough. However, the best thing about Christmas has to be spending time with our loved ones.
But what would you do if a member of your family or friends fell seriously ill and needed urgent medical attention? It’s a horrible thought, but people with underlying heart conditions can often put a great deal of strain on their heart at this time of year by indulging in sweet treats and alcohol or even shovelling snow from the driveway.
In the 9th instalment of the 12 Days of First Aid Tips, we want to educate you on how to perform CPR, so that if you are faced with an unconscious casualty who has stopped breathing you will be able to act quickly and effectively, giving them the best possible chance of survival.
The purpose of CPR is to maintain blood flow from the heart to the vital organs, imitating the circulatory system so that oxygenated blood can reach all areas of the body. CPR is also used to keep the heart in a shockable rhythm before a defibrillator is used.
If you notice someone has collapsed the first thing you must do is try and get a response from them by asking if they are ok and by gently shaking their shoulders.
If the casualty doesn’t respond, open their airway by tilting their head backwards and check to see if they are breathing normally.
If the casualty has stopped breathing they will require urgent medical care. You should ring the emergency services and request for a defibrillator. Once the ambulance has been called you should start CPR without delay – early CPR and early defibrillation will give the casualty the best chance of survival possible.
Give 30 compressions followed by two breaths at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. You should continue with CPR until the emergency services or a defibrillator arrives.
CPR is a very tiring procedure so you should shout for help in order to attract the attention of bystanders. Once you become fatigued they can take over to ensure that the depth and rate of compressions are effective enough to keep the heart in a shockable rhythm.
If you have any questions about CPR, contact our customer service team for their expert guidance on 0845 071 0820.
To learn more valuable first aid practices, catch up with our previous blog posts featured on the 12 Days of First Aid Tips.