Diabetes Integrated Wellness Society

Emergency Medicine & CPR

Cardiac arrest is synonymous with clinical death. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an organized, sequential response to cardiac arrest recognized by absent breathing and circulation. Prompt initiation of Basic life support with chest compression and rescue breathing are key to success.
Cardiac arrest can occur anywhere (home, office, factory, public places like airport, cinema halls etc.) and anytime. Every onlooker, who witnesses it, should start CPR without delay and continue it till taken over by professionals. AEDs may be available in offices, factories and public places like airports and the same can be used by anybody by following the audio instructions.

Check that the area is safe, and then perform the following basic CPR steps

Position your hand: Make sure the patient is lying on his back on a firm surface. Kneel beside him and place the heel of your hand on the center of the chest.

Interlock fingers: Keeping your arms straight, cover the first hand with the heel of your other hand and interlock the fingers of both hands together. Keep your fingers raised so they do not touch the patient’s chest or rib cage.

Give chest compressions: Lean forward so that your shoulders are directly over the patient’s chest and press down on the chest about two inches. Release the pressure, but not your hands, and let the chest come back up.

Open the airway: Move to the patient’s head. Tilt his head and lift his chin to open the airway again. Let his mouth fall open slightly.

Give rescue breaths: Pinch the nostrils closed with the hand that was on the forehead and support the patient’s chin with your other hand. Take a normal breath, put your mouth over the patient’s, and blow until you can see his chest rise.

Watch chest fall. Remove your mouth from the patient’s and look along the chest, watching the chest fall. Repeat above steps five and six once.

Repeat chest compressions and rescue breaths. Place your hands on the chest again and repeat the cycle of 30 chest compressions, followed by two rescue breaths. Continue the cycle.