Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, widely known as CPR, can be a life-saving technique when someone's heart stops. CPR is not generally effective at getting a stopped heart back to a proper rhythm, although occasionally that can happen, but it can prevent or minimize damage to the brain due to a lack of oxygen while waiting for trained personnel to arrive with medications and defibrillating equipment. Many people in Northern Virginia have found that learning the technique is beneficial and saves lives.
The procedure involves the use of chest compressions to stimulate the heart and keep blood circulating through the body, and particularly to the brain. Without oxygenation, the brain will suffer damage in about four minutes, and can suffer irreversible damage in around seven minutes, so quick action can make a huge difference in a victim's chances for survival. Resuscitation may also include performing rescue breathing, but recent American Heart Association guidelines for non-professionals encourage rescuers to focus on chest compressions to keep blood moving to the brain, and possibly return the heart to a rhythm that can respond to electric shock or defibrillation. Guidelines are different if the victim is a child or an infant. Young children and infants have been found to have a better chance of survival when rescue breathing is included in resuscitation efforts. Specialized child and infant CPR classes are available for people to take.
A recent survey found that bystanders were more likely to perform CPR in an emergency situation when they were taught to use the "hands only" method and didn't have to worry about doing rescue breathing as well. People commented that they felt less intimidated by the procedure and less fearful about "doing something wrong."
CPR training in Northern Virginia is available in every community, and anyone can sign up if they are physically able to perform chest compressions. Many trainers use a life-sized doll that feels very much like a real person to give students the opportunity to experience how proper chest compressions feel. There are also smaller dolls available to teach child and infant CPR. Certifications need to be renewed periodically by taking a refresher course which will provide any updates to current guidelines and also an opportunity to work with the training dolls.
It's a practical idea for each workplace and every family to have at least one person who is certified in performing CPR. No one expects to have a cardiac arrest, but it happens every day. Parents of certain at-risk children will often be taught infant CPR before they can take their child home from the hospital. It is not a difficult procedure, and it's a small investment that can allow an average person to be the difference between life and death for a stranger or even a loved one.
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