Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): Saving Lives

1. Understanding CPR

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a vital technique employed when someone ceases to breathe. Learn about its significance:

1.1 The Heart's Role

Your heart is a remarkable organ responsible for pumping oxygenated blood throughout your body. Discover how it functions:

• The right-hand side of your heart sends blood to the lungs for oxygenation.
• Oxygenated blood returns to the left-hand side of the heart.
• From there, it's distributed through arteries, capillaries, and organs.
• Deoxygenated blood returns to the heart through veins, completing the cycle.

1.2 Heart's Electrical System

Understand the heart's electric signals and its ability to contract:

• Electric shocks generated within the heart's pacemakers cause muscle contractions.
• These contractions are responsible for the heart's rhythmic beating.
• Blockages or disruptions can impair blood flow or lead to cardiac arrest.

1.3 Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)

In emergency situations, around 85% to 90% of cases involve VF, an abnormal twitching of the heart:

• During VF, the heart quivers, failing to pump blood effectively.
• CPR aims to maintain oxygen-rich blood circulation throughout the body.
• Reviving the heart requires a defibrillator and, sometimes, medications from paramedics.

2. Performing CPR

CPR may seem complex, but the technique is straightforward and can be a lifesaver:

2.1 Check for Breathing

You don't need to assess the heart's activity; simply determine if the person is breathing:

• If no breathing is observed, initiate CPR immediately.
• CPR's primary goal is to sustain oxygen supply to vital organs.

Remember, the heart's restart is achieved through a defibrillator or medical intervention. CPR keeps oxygen flowing until help arrives.