Can sudden cardiac arrest cases have a shot at survival? Here’s how CPR can help

Yet less than one per cent of the country’s population has undergone formal CPR training, with only 2-4 per cent of cardiac arrest victims receiving bystander CPR assistance.

What is CPR?

CPR is an emergency life-saving technique used when someone’s heart stops beating. It combines chest compressions and rescue breaths to keep the blood flowing and provide oxygen to the brain. This ensures temporary and manually enabled circulation, increasing the affected person’s chances of survival until medical help arrives.

When is CPR given?

CPR is given in an event of a cardiac arrest, that is, when a person suddenly collapses, doesn’t respond on calling, is not breathing or is only gasping.

What should you do when someone suffers a cardiac arrest?

• Check for responsiveness: Tap the person’s shoulder and ask if they are okay.
• Call for help: Immediately ask someone to call emergency services or do it yourself if you’re alone.
• Position the person: Lay them on their back on a firm surface.
• Initiate CPR

How to give CPR?

Chest compressions can be given by placing the heel of one hand on the centre of the chest and interlocking the fingers of your other hand on top. Interlock thumbs and two fingers if the patient is a child. Then compress the chest hard and fast. The aim should be to achieve a chest compression of at least two inches deep at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.

Take a pause after 30 compressions, tilt the patient’s head back slightly and lift the chin, which moves the tongue away from blocking the airway. Pinch the nose shut, seal your mouth over theirs and give two breaths (each lasting about 1 second, watching for the chest to rise).

After two rescue breaths, resume chest compressions. Continue the cycle with 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths until professional help arrives or the person shows signs of life. If you are uncomfortable giving breaths, or if you are untrained, a hands-only CPR (only chest compressions without rescue breaths) is also effective.

Stay calm and focussed until help arrives.

Why is timely CPR important?

Immediate CPR by a by-stander before the arrival of medical assistance can dramatically improve the affected individual’s chances of survival.

Who should learn CPR and why?

• Anyone can learn CPR. It is very simple but highly effective.
• Many people who receive CPR survive until emergency services arrive.
• It gives you the confidence to act in emergencies, potentially saving a life.

(Dr Karthik Vasudevan, Chief of Interventional Cardiology and Heart Failure, Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru)