CPR- What are we doing when we perform it correctly?

The Life-Saving Power of High-Quality CPR

What Happens When We Perform High-Quality CPR?
High-quality CPR is a critical intervention during cardiac arrest, significantly increasing the chances of survival and reducing the risk of long-term neurological damage. Let’s take a look at what happens when we perform high-quality CPR:

Buying Time: Our number one asset is time. During cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating effectively, leading to a cessation of blood flow. Without intervention, brain damage can occur within minutes. CPR buys us crucial time by maintaining circulation and oxygenation, giving emergency responders a better chance to save the patient.

Restoration of Blood Flow: Our primary goal of CPR is to manually pump blood through the heart and into the rest of the body. We achieved this through high quality chest compressions, which mimic the heart’s natural pumping action. Effective compressions ensure that oxygenated blood reaches vital organs, particularly the brain and heart.

Oxygen Delivery: High-quality CPR includes rescue breaths, which provide oxygen to the lungs. The oxygen is then circulated by our chest compressions, helping to maintain the body’s oxygen levels until advanced medical care can take over.

Maintaining Vital Organ Function: By ensuring continuous blood flow, CPR helps us preserve the function of vital organs. This is crucial in preventing tissue death and extending the window of time during which successful resuscitation can occur without permanent damage.

Improving Survival Rates: Studies have shown that high-quality CPR can significantly boost our victims survival odds. For instance, when we maintain a compression rate of 100-120 compressions per minute and a depth of 2-2.4 inches in adults is associated with better outcomes.

Use of AEDs: Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are often used in conjunction with CPR. AEDs deliver shocks to the heart to restore a normal rhythm. High-quality CPR ensures that the heart is in the best possible condition to respond to these shocks.