New Studies Reveal That More People Would Attempt CPR If Given Better Instructions, No Mouth-to-Mouth

(AP) More bystanders are willing to attempt CPR if an emergency dispatcher gives them firm and direct instructions – especially if they can just press on the chest and skip the mouth-to-mouth, according to new research.

The two new studies conclude that “hands-only” chest compression is enough to save a life. They are the largest and most rigorous yet to suggest that breathing into a victim’s mouth isn’t needed in most cases.

The American Heart Association has been promoting hands-only CPR for two years, though it’s not clear how much it’s caught on. The new studies should encourage dispatchers and bystanders to be more aggressive about using the simpler technique.

“That could translate into hundreds if not thousands of additional lives saved each year. What are we waiting for?” said Dr. Arthur Kellermann, a RAND Corporation expert on emergency medicine.

An estimated 310,000 Americans die each year of cardiac arrest outside hospitals or in emergency rooms. Only about 6 percent of those who are stricken outside a hospital survive.

When someone collapses and stops breathing, many people panic and believe that phoning 911 is the best they can do to help.

The larger of the two new studies reported survival rates of about 12 percent when bystanders did dispatcher-directed CPR, confirming earlier research that on-scene CPR can dramatically increase a victim’s odds of survival.

Previous research has suggested that adults who need CPR get it only about one-quarter to one-third of the time when bystanders are around.

One of the new studies found that when dispatchers told callers to start CPR, about 80 percent attempted it when given hands-only instructions, more than the 70 percent who tried the standard version.

Sayre and others credited the increase on dispatchers who immediately told callers what to do, instead of first asking them if they’d had CPR training or if they’d be willing to try it until medical help arrives.

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a technique that’s been in use for about 50 years. The standard version now calls for alternating 30 hard pushes on a victim’s chest with two quick breaths into their mouth.

The aim of CPR is to do some of the mechanical work of the heart by forcing at least some blood and oxygen to the brain and other vital organs.

Experts have come to believe that pumping is what’s most important in most adult cases, and advise doing chest pushes continually at a rate of 100 per minute and skipping the mouth-to-mouth. Some suggest using the beat of the old disco song “Stayin’ Alive” as a guide.

The studies are being published in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine.

While there is no good national data on how often hands-only CPR is used, Dr. Ben Bobrow, who directs the Arizona Department of Health Services’ emergency medical system, believes it is catching on.

“We’ve seen a huge trend in hands-only CPR in Arizona and I believe that trend is spreading across the country. I think these findings will further promote that,” he said.

Worry about doing CPR correctly was the No. 2 reason many people don’t attempt it, according to a Michigan study published in 2006. The No. 1 reason? People are too panicked.

Traditional CPR is still the preferred form of resuscitation for children or adults who have stopped breathing because of choking, drowning or other respiratory problems.

SOURCE: cbsnews.com

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Hand Only CPR Segment on NBC Today Show Saved a Life.

A Today Show Viewer just watched a few minutes of a Segment that Matt Lauer did on Hands Only CPR and was able to use it to save a life.

Hand Only CPR Segment on Today Show Saves a Life

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From firstaid.webmd.com

Dealing With Emergencies – Rescue Breathing and CPR

The American Heart Association recommends these guidelines for CPR.

Doing CPR the wrong way or on a person whose heart is still beating can cause serious harm. Do not do CPR unless:

1. An adult is not breathing normally (may be gasping for breath), or a child is not breathing at all.
2. The person does not breathe or move in response to being touched or talked to (Step 1, below).
3. No one with more training in CPR than you is present. If you are the only one there, do the best you can.

The CPR Ready Reference has the basic steps for CPR. Use it for quick information on rescue breathing rates, hand placement for chest compression, compression rates, compression depth, and ratio of compressions to breaths.

Step 1. Check to see if the person is conscious.

Tap or gently shake the person and shout, “Are you okay?” But do not shake someone who might have a neck or back injury. That could make it worse.

If the person does not respond, follow these steps.

Adults and older children who have reached puberty

• For an adult or an older child who has reached puberty (body hair or breast development), call911 or other emergency services.

Babies and young children until the age of puberty

• For a baby or young child who has not reached puberty, give 2 breaths and 30 chest compressions, 5 times in a row (about 2 minutes). If the child is still not breathing, call911 or other emergency services. Note: If you see a child collapse, call911 before starting rescue breathing or CPR.

Step 2: Check for breathing for 5 to 10 seconds.

• If an adult is not breathing normally or if a child is not breathing at all, roll the person onto his or her back on a firm, flat surface. If you think the person might have a neck or back injury, gently roll the person’s head, neck, and shoulders together as a unit (logroll).
• Kneel next to the person with your head close to his or her head.
• Look to see if the person’s chest rises and falls.
• Listen for breathing sounds.
• Put your cheek near the person’s mouth and nose to feel whether air is moving out.

If the person is breathing, watch him or her for any changes until emergency services arrive.

Step 3: Rescue breaths.

• To do rescue breaths, put one hand on the person’s forehead and push with your palm to tilt the head back. Put the fingers of your other hand under the bony part of the lower jaw near the chin. Tilt the chin upward to keep the airway open.
• Take a normal breath (not a deep one), and place your mouth over the person’s mouth, making a tight seal. For a baby, place your mouth over the baby’s mouth and nose. Blow into the person’s mouth for 1 second, and watch to see if the person’s chest rises.
• If the chest does not rise, tilt the person’s head again, and give another breath.
• Between rescue breaths, remove your mouth from the person’s mouth and take a normal breath. Let his or her chest fall, and feel the air escape.
• If the person is still not breathing normally after 2 rescue breaths, check for a pulse and be ready to start chest compressions. Note: For an adult and child older than 1 year, check for a pulse in the neck to the side of the windpipe. For a baby, check for a pulse on the inside of the upper arm between the elbow and shoulder.

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