Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a medical aid to restore the ability to breathe and blood circulation that has stopped due to certain conditions or situations. This action needs to be done quickly and precisely as a first step to save someone's life.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or also called CPR is a first aid effort for people who experience respiratory and cardiac arrest for various reasons, such as heart attack, accident, or drowning.
This action needs to be done as soon as possible, because the blood flow and respiratory system is stopped can cause brain damage and even death in just 4-6 minutes.
Stages of Performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Before performing CPR, there are several things you need to pay attention to. The first thing is to make sure the location is safe to help the victim. For example, if the victim is found in the middle of the road, it is better to move the victim to the sidewalk or roadside before giving CPR.
Next, check the victim's level of consciousness. You can try calling him out loud and gently patting his shoulder. If there is no response, try noting if the victim's chest or abdomen is moving up and down.
You can also place your finger in front of the victim's nostril vertically to check for exhalation. After that, check the pulse on the wrist or the side of the victim's neck to make sure his heart is still beating.
If the victim does not show a response or remains unconscious, immediately contact medical personnel at 112 or the nearest hospital and perform CPR until help arrives.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation technique is divided into three stages known as C-A-B (C-A-B).compression, airways, breathing). Following are the steps to do it:
Applying chest compressions (compression)
Chest compressions are performed by placing one hand on the center of the victim's chest and the other hand on top of the first hand.
Apply pressure on the victim's chest 100–120 times per minute, at a rate of 1–2 pressures per second until medical help arrives or until the victim shows a response.
Open the airway (airways)
This stage is carried out when the victim does not show a response after being given chest compressions. To open the airway, you can lift the victim's head by placing your hand on his forehead, then slowly lift the victim's chin.
Provide rescue breaths (breathing)
If the victim still does not show signs of breathing, the next step is to give artificial mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose breaths if the victim's mouth is badly injured or difficult to open.
The first step of giving artificial respiration is to pinch the victim's nose, then position your mouth in the victim's mouth. Give two breaths or air from your mouth, noting if the victim's chest appears to be expanding and contracting like a person breathing.
If the victim is not yet showing signs of breathing, try to correct the position of the neck or check again for obstruction in the airway. Next, repeat the chest compressions 30 times, interspersed with two rescue breaths.
If you are not trained or have not mastered how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, it is recommended that you do help with chest compressions only (hands only CPR) without providing rescue breaths.
Chest compressions continue until medical help arrives or stop when the victim begins to breathe and shows movement.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency medical aid that needs to be done as soon as possible. Although it is very important, there are still many people who cannot or are afraid to do it because they feel they do not have sufficient expertise.
In fact, cardiopulmonary resuscitation can increase the chances of a person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest to survive and avoid brain damage and even death.
So, there is nothing wrong if you study cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This technique might be able to help you save someone's life when faced with an emergency.
In addition, make sure you continue to contact the medical staff even though the victim has regained consciousness after cardiopulmonary resuscitation has been carried out so that you can get further treatment from the doctor at the hospital.