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Journalism of Courage
Modern CPR developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The discoverers of mouth-to-mouth ventilation were Drs James Elam and Peter Safar. Though mouth-to-mouth resuscitation was described in the Bible mostly performed by midwives to resuscitate newborns it fell out of practice until it was rediscovered in the 1950s.
In early 1960 Drs Kouwenhoven, Knickerbocker, and Jude discovered the benefit of chest compression to achieve a small amount of artificial circulation. Later in 1960, mouth-to-mouth and chest compression were combined to form CPR similar to the way it is practiced today.
WHAT 038; WHY
In sudden cardiac arrest the heart goes from a normal heartbeat to a quivering rhythm called ventricular fibrillation VF. This happens in approximately 2/3 of all cardiac arrests. VF is fatal unless an electric shock, called defibrillation, can be given. CPR does not stop VF but it extends the window of time in which defibrillation can be effective. CPR provides a trickle of oxygenated blood to the brain and heart and keeps these organs alive until defibrillation can shock the heart into a normal rhythm. If CPR is started within 4 minutes of collapse and defibrillation provided within 10 minutes a person has a 40 per cent chance of survival.
HOW
8226; Check the victim for unresponsiveness. If there is no response, call emergency
8226; Tilt the head back and listen for breathing. If there8217;s no normal breathing, pinch the patient8217;s nose and cover the mouth with yours and blow until you see the chest rise. Give 2 breaths. Each breath should take 1 second.
8226; If the victim is still not breathing normally, coughing or moving, begin chest compressions. Push down on the chest 11/2 to 2 inches 30 times. Pump at the rate of 100/minute, faster than once per second.
8226; Continue with 2 breaths and 30 pumps until help arrives.
8211;Source: Washington University Education
