I have never performed CPR (or Cardiopulmonary Rescucitation) on
anyone and I think it's important to learn how. My wife applied the
Heimlich Maneauver on some heavyset woman choking on a chicken bone at
a food court some years ago. I thought that was awesome (and funny).
Seriously though, saving someone's life is a critical life skill to
learn.
They offered a free CPR session the other day as part of May Life
Safety Month so I attended. Here are my cryptic notes during that free
session with regards to the A-B-C-D's of CPR and thought I'd post it
here so I don't forget. Please correct me if I have misunderstood the
steps anywhere here:
"A" - Check their AIRWAYS
If someone is choking, make sure you clear their airways by applying
the Heimlich Maneauver. It takes an adult 20 seconds before they fall
down and lose consciousness so you have to act fast. Here the steps:
1) Make eye contact;
2) Ask if they are choking;
3) Get someone to call 911;
4) Position yourself behind them. If they are from 1-8 years in age,
kneel down. If it's a baby, support their head/neck and invert to get
the baby to expel the object in their airway;
5) Otherwise, make a fist with one hand and wrap your arms around
their stomach and squeeze in an upward motion to try and clear their
airway. If they are pregnant, push up against their breastplate.
6) If they are on the ground, tilt their head to ensure their airway
is clear and scoop out anything that could be blocking their airway. I
know it's gross but..
Follow the "Life over Limb" rule. The Good Samaritan Law ensures you
don't get into trouble for trying to help. You can move them on their
back to properly run through steps A-B-C-D without worrying about
causing neck or back injury by doing so. You have to save their life
which is more important than breaking their "limb" so to speak.
"B" - Are they BREATHING?
If they are breathing and you have to leave the victim to call for
help, make sure you put them on their side so that they don't drown in
case they have to vomit. If they aren't breathing, do 30 chest pumps,
tilt their head back for better nasal airway passage, then 2 quick
breaths into their mouth. If it feels like no air is going through,
check that their airways aren't blocked, then wait 10 seconds,
continue with 30 chest pumps, 2 quick breaths, and then repeat.
"C" - Check for CIRCULATION
Place your fingers on their neck and check for pulse. If there is no
pulse, then you have to breathe for them. Do 30 chest pumps, tilt
their head back, then blow air into their mouth, wait 5 seconds, then
blow air again. Check their breathing and circulation again and if
there is no change, repeat above. There are only five things that can
happen for you to stop:
1) Their state changes for the better;
2) Your life is in danger;
3) You are tired;
4) Someone more experienced replaces you;
5) A doctor pronounces them dead.
"D" - Is there DEADLY BLEEDING?
When ABC above is done, make sure you stop any bleeding if you can.
Your turn. Did I get all this correct?
anyone and I think it's important to learn how. My wife applied the
Heimlich Maneauver on some heavyset woman choking on a chicken bone at
a food court some years ago. I thought that was awesome (and funny).
Seriously though, saving someone's life is a critical life skill to
learn.
They offered a free CPR session the other day as part of May Life
Safety Month so I attended. Here are my cryptic notes during that free
session with regards to the A-B-C-D's of CPR and thought I'd post it
here so I don't forget. Please correct me if I have misunderstood the
steps anywhere here:
"A" - Check their AIRWAYS
If someone is choking, make sure you clear their airways by applying
the Heimlich Maneauver. It takes an adult 20 seconds before they fall
down and lose consciousness so you have to act fast. Here the steps:
1) Make eye contact;
2) Ask if they are choking;
3) Get someone to call 911;
4) Position yourself behind them. If they are from 1-8 years in age,
kneel down. If it's a baby, support their head/neck and invert to get
the baby to expel the object in their airway;
5) Otherwise, make a fist with one hand and wrap your arms around
their stomach and squeeze in an upward motion to try and clear their
airway. If they are pregnant, push up against their breastplate.
6) If they are on the ground, tilt their head to ensure their airway
is clear and scoop out anything that could be blocking their airway. I
know it's gross but..
Follow the "Life over Limb" rule. The Good Samaritan Law ensures you
don't get into trouble for trying to help. You can move them on their
back to properly run through steps A-B-C-D without worrying about
causing neck or back injury by doing so. You have to save their life
which is more important than breaking their "limb" so to speak.
"B" - Are they BREATHING?
If they are breathing and you have to leave the victim to call for
help, make sure you put them on their side so that they don't drown in
case they have to vomit. If they aren't breathing, do 30 chest pumps,
tilt their head back for better nasal airway passage, then 2 quick
breaths into their mouth. If it feels like no air is going through,
check that their airways aren't blocked, then wait 10 seconds,
continue with 30 chest pumps, 2 quick breaths, and then repeat.
"C" - Check for CIRCULATION
Place your fingers on their neck and check for pulse. If there is no
pulse, then you have to breathe for them. Do 30 chest pumps, tilt
their head back, then blow air into their mouth, wait 5 seconds, then
blow air again. Check their breathing and circulation again and if
there is no change, repeat above. There are only five things that can
happen for you to stop:
1) Their state changes for the better;
2) Your life is in danger;
3) You are tired;
4) Someone more experienced replaces you;
5) A doctor pronounces them dead.
"D" - Is there DEADLY BLEEDING?
When ABC above is done, make sure you stop any bleeding if you can.
Your turn. Did I get all this correct?
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