CPR for saving lives

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is one of the most startling discoveries of the modern science. The most scintillating success story of this miracle of medicine is that CPR may be brought about at any place by anybody. A further nerve shattering tempo is the fact that the arbitration between life and death can be played anywhere without any instrument by using your hands, lungs and brains like calisthenics. The golden opportunity of performing a CPR should be embarked upon whenever a situation looms large without wasting valuable moments on counting clinical or biological death.

CPR can be carried out single handedly just by chest compression or can be conveniently combined with mouth to mouth breathing by a second person. The players must be trained to induct a CPR. The three rules of thumb for CPR: ABC.

A (Airway): To open the airway is one of the most important ground breaking steps of CPR. Take a few vital measures like tilting the head backward, forward thrusting of the jaw and lifting of the chin. Place the victim on a firm and smooth surface. When the airway is clogged with blood, mucous or secretions - restore the airway by a finger wrapped in gauze or cloth. If vomiting, turn the head on one side.

B (Breathing): Examine quickly if there is breathing. If no breathing, start mouth to mouth breathing. At first exhale two successive full breaths into to the mouth of the victim without any interruption. Pinch the nostrils. Then the resuscitator takes a full breath placing his mouth on the mouth of the body then continues mouth to mouth breathing. Put a piece of gauze on the mouth to avoid contamination.

C (Circulation): Go for the pulse. If no pulse, start external cardiac message (chest Compression). Locate the xiphoid process (metasternum). 1- 1.5 inches above the xiphoid process, place the heel of one palm superimposing the heel of other palm interlacing the fingers, putting the full pressure and weight of your body on the prescribed area of the chest keeping the elbows straight and kneeling on one side of the body. A successful compression should depress the chest 1-1.5 inches. Continue the exercise at the rate of 80-100 compressions per minute smoothly and evenly. After every 15 compressions deliver 2 breathings. This must be emphasised that the technique demonstrated here is outside the perimeter of a medical setup. In a medical institution there cannot be a CPR without an ambu bag.

If you can find pulse, breathing, blood pressure in a casualty, there is no need to perform a CPR. As a matter of fact, when you encounter absence of pulse, breathing, blood pressure or the presence of a flat ECG — that is the time of taking over exposing your guts, dexterity and mental faculty.

It is not mandatory that all CPR attempts will be successful what is important is to start the exercise as soon as you embark upon one. Even if you fail, you have your satisfaction and clear conscience. It is always pleasing to put your hands on the chest than to observe the victim dying silently. The difference your action makes is someone's life.

It is time to turn the table. CPR is not only the domain of the medics; it also belongs to the public and the community. CPR is a life -saving technique difficult to pronounce easy to perform. A chapter on CPR should be made compulsory in the text books of all academic institutions. Medical students are to be apprised on basic life support as well as advance life support including CPR in the curricula.

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