When people hear the term cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), they often think of doctors, nurses, hospitals and other emergency rescue teams. They rarely see themselves as part of the group who knows how to perform CPR. Gone are the days of health care provider CPR that is limited to people on the health care profession. Everybody is now encouraged to learn the basics of CPR.
Why is CPR essential?
CPR is a technique that aims to provide a steady supply of blood to the heart and brain in cases of cardiac arrest. Through CPR measures, a lot of deaths from cardiac arrest can be prevented. The knowledge of CPR is not only exclusive to the health care provider. CPR is a skill that is encouraged on everyone, whether working for the medical field or not.
Every second counts
The effectiveness of CPR relies on how early it was initiated. When done earlier, it has greater possibility of saving lives. The heart massage done in CPR could establish a steady blood supply to the heart and brain. These two organs are the most sensitive to blood loss. Without blood and oxygen, the cells of the heart and brain easily die. When the cells of the heart and brain die, they do not regenerate, unlike skin cells. When CPR is done earlier, it can save a lot of cells from dying. Every second counts as these cells will die without CPR measures done. It will take too long to wait for a health care provider. CPR measures could be done even by ordinary people to make it more effective. People who are present in an emergency situation are not always working in the health profession. Hence, many of them do not know what to do when someone goes into an emergency condition such as cardiac arrest. When these people know how to do CPR properly, they can start it earlier and make it more effective.
They can happen anytime, anywhere
Cardiac arrests do not only happen on hospitals. People could go into cardiac arrest at any place, anytime. You cannot always stay at a hospital or a place with a health care provider. CPR can be initiated by anyone who has undergone training on CPR. By being armed with the necessary skills in handling emergency situations, you can have the best weapon of all.
Emergency equipment is not always at reach
Emergency medicines and other life-saving tools are not always accessible. When someone goes into arrest, you cannot expect to have the wealth of materials and resources in saving them. Most of the time, you have to make do with resources that are available. The CPR technique can be done without any equipment at all. You only need to be skillful and knowledgeable in the performance of the said procedure. By the use of your hands and body, you can help a person to move further away from impending death. Through CPR measures, even ordinary people can help save lives.