What is CPR? Know the Complete CPR Procedure to Save a Life

A heart attack comes without notice putting the person through unimaginable suffering and pain. While there are high chances of losing one’s life during a cardiac arrest there’s an equal possibility of reviving the patient back to life. Yet, unfortunately, people often succumb to death due to a lack of awareness about life-saving techniques that work in emergencies like a heart stroke, choking, breathlessness, and near-drowning situations. One such crucial life-saver is the technique of CPR which is clinically advised to prevent death during certain medical emergencies. 

In this article, you will learn everything about the CPR technique, how to give CPR and its types, so you can protect a life when the duty calls for it.   

What is CPR?

CPR stands  for “cardiopulmonary resuscitation.” CPR is an emergency lifesaving first-aid performed if a person’s heartbeat suddenly stops due to a stroke or other critical condition. The art of resuscitation has been practised and evolved for ages. 

• About 2000 years ago, a traditional Chinese healer named Zhongjing Zhang elaborately recorded a program to save people from suicide by hanging in his book “Synopsis of the Golden Chamber”. He suggested saving a person from dying by gently embracing his body covered in a quilt and then untying the rope without cutting.
• During the 2nd century CE, ancient Indian physician Charaka explained the procedure of “Pran-Pratyagamana” or “return of prana (life)” in his text Charaka-Samhita.
• During the 16th century, the flagellation (whipping) method was used to shock and resuscitate a dying person. Similarly, fireplace bellows were used to force air into the lungs of a person approaching death.
• It was in the 1740s that the Paris Academy of Science recommended the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation method.
• Finally, in 1891, a German surgeon Dr Friedrich Maass recommended the modern technique of CPR through chest compressions.

Knowing how to give CPR correctly can save a person’s life during a cardiac emergency. 

When is CPR Treatment Required?

During an adverse health condition such as heart stroke, asthma, nervous breakdown or pulmonary hypertension, a patient may suddenly feel shortness of breath. Sometimes, these conditions worsen and may result in loss of breath since the brain functioning gets disrupted due to the trauma caused by the stroke and the resulting lack of blood circulation to the brain. CPR is the only emergency procedure that manually restores the brain functioning before proper treatment starts. 

What is the purpose of CPR?

The primary purpose of CPR is to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing. Continuous chest compressions during the CPR process bring the partial flow of the reoxygenated blood back to the brain and heart. This delays the death of the body tissue and leads to successful “resuscitation” that saves the brain from permanent damage or death. 

How Many Types of CPR are there?

CPR is categorised into different levels based on the purpose of CPR for various types of emergency cases and the patient’s age. Accordingly, there are 4 Levels of CPR— A, B, C and BLS. Different kinds of individuals perform these levels of CPR as the case may require. Both the general public and medical professionals must get the proper training to be able to perform these types of CPR.

1. Level A: Those beginners in first-aid and interested in learning rescue operations must understand CPR Level A. This level deals with the basics of CPR training. It familiarises the participants with the choking procedures and the significance of early defibrillation (normalising the heartbeat through controlled electric shock). Canadian Red Cross provides courses in CPR Level A.

2. Level B: The CPR Level-B is meant for emergencies affecting infants and children. Here “B” stands for babies. The CPR procedure under this level is a specialisation required by babysitters and nursemaids responsible for baby care—the technique involves using automatic defibrillators for infants. Earlier, only the American Red Cross used to provide CPR level B training. Now, the Canadian Red Cross also provides level B training.   

3. Level C: This is the advanced level of CPR meant to train professional rescuers such as lifeguards, firefighters, police, and military personnel. The level C includes the following courses on CPR treatment:

• Standard First Aid and Emergency First Aid, Red Cross and Heart & Stroke Foundation provide both courses.
• Heartsaver CPR AED level C (CPR for heart attack training provided by Heart and Stroke Foundation)

4. Level BLS-HCP: BLS-HCP is an acronym for Basic Life Support— Health Care Providers. CPR procedures under level BLS-HCP are designed for advanced healthcare professionals who must attain life support skills. The BLS-HCP courses are designed to train Health Care Providers, such as paramedical staff, with the essential skills to cope with medical exigencies, including high-intensity CPR, trauma, and drug overdose. The Canadian Red Cross governs the training procedures for BLS-HCP courses worldwide.

What are the 7 Steps of CPR?

Learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation is reasonably necessary for everyone. If you know how to give CPR, you won’t panic in a medical emergency. Given below is the complete CPR procedure: 

Dial the Emergency Helpline 

Before initiating CPR treatment on a person, it is essential to call the national emergency helpline 112. There are two reasons behind this— firstly, it will alert the medical personnel about the emergency, and secondly, it will help you get confirmation whether the patient needs CPR treatment.

Check the Heartbeat & Pulse 

It is important to note that CPR is a deliberate process that requires frequent monitoring of the patient’s condition. Hence, before beginning the CPR process, it is essential to check the heartbeat and pulse rate of the patient and carefully note it down on paper.

Clear the Breathing Passage

The purpose of CPR is to normalise the breathing cycle of a person. Hence, before following the CPR steps, you must manually clear the breathing passage of the patient using some specialised tools. Any blockage in the breathing passage can hinder the process of CPR. however, reaching the patient’s trachea to clear the blockages can be risky, so the person performing CPR should be proficient in using special tools.

Begin Chest Compressions

Once the breathing passage is cleared, it is time to initiate the cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedure. You must begin by pushing down on the patient’s chest at a pace of 100-120 chest compressions in a minute. The ideal CPR ratio is 30 compressions to 2 breaths. Ensure you simultaneously count out the number of compressions loudly to keep track of it. You may also use a specialised mobile app for CPR, such as the CPR Metronome or CPR Tempo app.

Turn the Patient’s Side if Coughing

In between the CPR process, if the patient starts coughing, you must turn his/her side to avoid the cough going into the breathing passage, leading to a choking hazard.

Continue Chest Compressions

Keep on with the chest compressions without any stoppage, simultaneously recording the number of compressions in a minute. You must do this until the person starts breathing on his/her own.

Monitor Heartbeat & Pulse till Medical Help Arrives

Once the patient starts breathing on his/her own at an average pace, you should discontinue the cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedure. It's time to monitor the heartbeat & pulse once again and record the same. You are required to keep track of the patient’s heartbeat & pulse till medical help arrives.

Knowing these seven simple CPR steps will make you a pro-rescuer who can give timely help to save a life.

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>> Also Read: Stroke vs Heart Attack

Disclaimer: It is essential to verify the policy details and amount of coverage in accordance with the official policy document. Besides, it is essential to consult a professional medical expert to confirm the details of health concerns.