MedBlogs

A few days back I heard my brother narrate an incident of sudden cardiac arrest in his office. The victim aged 26, collapsed while talking with his colleagues. There was no warning signs or symptoms. Though he was rushed to the hospital, he was declared dead on arrival. It was disheartening to know that none of them who had witnessed the guy collapse had tried performing Cardio Pulmonary Resucitation or CPR other than panicking.

Many of them either aren’t aware of it or the misconceptions about CPR discourages them from giving the aid at the right time.

After hearing this story I have felt a little compelled to write about CPR and educate people visiting Medwonders website to understand it and then visit an animation on CPR to grasp it further. You should also know how to feel for 'pulse' of a person - there is another  animation on medindia to help you learn to do this too.

Rememebr that Sudden Cardiac Arrest does not give the victim enough time and calls for the bystanders so act fast and provide the first aid, CPR, until help arrives. With every minute that passes the survival rate of the victim reduces drastically.

First signs of sudden cardiac arrest:

Sudden cardiac arrest causes your heart to stop its function of pumping blood thus depriving the vital organs of oxygen supply. Brain cells require a continuous supply of oxygenated blood.

Hence brain cells start degenerating within few minutes of sudden cardiac arrest and if the condition persists it may prove fatal and the survival rate becomes negligible.

What needs to be done?

• First and foremost measure is to ensure that there is oxygen rich blood supply to the vital organs by performing compression step of CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

• Place your palm in the middle of the patient’s chest. Keeping the elbows straight and using your upper body weight, compress the chest, 5cm deep, at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. This is the first step in CPR.

•The next step involves opening up the airway and giving quick breaths by mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and again continuing with the compressions. One needs to get trained for the second step to be effectively performed.

Who can perform?

• Even if you are untrained you can always perform the compressions until help arrives. The lungs and the blood have sufficient oxygen. Though doing the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation makes it more efficient.

•Even School going children can be trained to give the compressions.

As depicted in movies, CRP alone cannot save the victim. CPR has less than 5% success rate. But providing CPR increases the survival rate of the victim by three times, and supports the victim till further medical care is provided.

With more than 50% of coronary heart disease patients meeting their death due to sudden cardiac arrest and nearly 80% of the cases happening out-of-hospital situations, it is high time that we become aware of CPR procedure.

Next time you see someone collapse, become breathless or unconscious; do not hesitate to start the compressions until medical help arrives. It might make a significant difference and you may save a life. So act fast and don't stand paralysed as every passing second counts as life slips away...!!