CPR Certification

CPR certification simply means you have completed a very simple series of tests to prove that you are qualified to provide cardiac pulmonary resuscitation should it be necessary. You can attend either online CPR classes or find ones at a center local to you. The American Heart Association, Red Cross and your local hospital or fire station are good places to look for CPR courses.

Why it is important?

Simple answer is that CPR can save lives. While the sad fact is that the majority who suffer a severe cardiac arrest do die, some live if somebody qualified in CPR comes to their aid. How can you tell who will live or die? You can’t but you can guarantee that someone will die if they suffer a cardiac arrest and nobody helps them.

So what should you do if you witness an accident or come across someone who you suspect has had a cardiac arrest?

If your heart stops beating, the blood flow is compromised and your organs will not get the oxygen it needs to survive. The brain can only survive for a couple of minutes without oxygen. It is imperative that circulation is maintained and the best way to do this is by using an automated external defibrillator. You will learn how to use one of these at your CPR class.

If you haven’t been trained in the use of an AED or one is not available then you must start chest compressions by hand. Done properly these can help get the heart beating and circulation moving.

The American Heart Association issues occasional guidelines on how CPR is best performed. The latest update was released in October 2010 and contained some major changes. Medical science is evolving all the time and as more is becoming known about how the body works, information regarding first aid and how it is best applied will change. Most people who have completed their CPR training will have learnt to do CPR using the ABC method.

ABC or CAB method?

In the ABC method, the first step was to open the airway, then to give rescue breathes followed by chest compressions. In the CAB method, the recommendation is to start with chest compressions as soon as possible. If you have not been properly trained as a first aider then continue with chest compressions until help arrives. If you have been CPR certified, you should start with chest compressions but perform rescue breathes at a ratios of 30:2 if you are able.

The current recommendations now suggest that the CAB method works better and is more appropriate in the majority of cases with the notable exception of newborn CPR. If a newborn baby suffers a cardiac arrest, the arrest is statistically most likely to have been caused by breathing problems so rescuer breathes are vital.

But in most adults, any delay in starting chest compressions including that caused by trying to open the airway could prove fatal. Studies show that survival rates are very similar regardless of whether hands only CPR or a combination of chest compressions and rescue breathes is used. The key is that it is much easier for someone untrained to start hands only CPR and therefore the hope is that more bystanders will come to a cardiac victims assistance. You can see hands only CPR in action in the video above.

Although the new guidance is for chest compressions to be started immediately and continued with minimal interruptions until an AED is located or the emergency services arrive, if you have been trained in CPR you should follow the method taught by your training until you recertify using the latest techniques.

Can I be sued if I attempt CPR and the person dies?

While there is a risk of being sued, it is relatistically very low and depends on where you live. In some states you could be sued if you do not come to the aid of a victim but stand by doing nothing. Giving aid could mean calling 911 or it could mean attempting CPR.

In some states, laws and regulations under the Good Samaritan ruling will offer some protection although it is not as clear cut as in other countries such as Canada.

But it is difficult to see how you could be successfully sued. Frankly, if someone has had a cardiac arrest chances are they are going to die anyway. If you intervene and give CPR, they could live. How could you live with knowing that someone may have lived if you had only taken the time to attend a short class?

Is there a risk of infection?

People worry about the risk of infection but there have been no known cases of Aids or other diseases being transmitted as a result of CPR. While the risks of infection were low, they are even lower with chest compression only CPR.

Can you break someone's bones?

Yes there is a risk that you will break someones bones if you are doing chest compressions. The guidelines state that you need to "push hard and fast". Most would be rescuers don't push hard enough. The compressions need to be at least 2 inches. Think about what you are trying to accompolish i.e. you need to get the heart muscle pumping again. So stop worrying about breaking bones, concentrate on what you have been taught and get started with those compressions. I am sure most people would prefer to live and suffer a couple of broken ribs than to die.

Is it just old people who suffer sudden cardic arrests?

No anyone can have a sudden cardiac arrest. In fact they can happen to those we consider fit and healthy. There are any number of reasons why a heart stops beating and the very fact that there is often a "silent" health issue makes them all the more dangerous. If you knew you had heart problems you could take precautions but if you are usually healthy, you probably don't give it a second thought. For example, Brian Fouche suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during a cycling event, at the age of 28 and now has an internal defibrillator according to the Herald Mail. Previous to the incident, Brian wasn't aware of any health issues. He credits the fact another contestant in the race gave him CPR with saving his life. He intends on learning CPR himself.