Dr. Decipher: Learn 2 Steps to CPR

By Dr. John Janousek, M.D. Monday, February 22, 2010

Steve Thompson helplessly watched as a wedding guest collapsed and almost died. No one began CPR.  He said, “I didn’t want to be in the situation again where someone needed help and there was nothing I could do”, so he decided to take a course in CPR.  

Six months later, he walked into a gym in Raleigh and found 38-year-old Stuart Thompson unconscious on the floor.  Again, no one was doing anything.  Stuart had been shaking and had turned blue for two minutes while onlookers waited for EMS to arrive.  Steve went to Stuart, checked his pulse, and then immediately began CPR.  A few minutes later, paramedics arrived and shocked Stuart with an AED (Automated External Debrillator).  After one week in the hospital and six months of recovery Stuart was lucky. Afterwards Steve said he didn’t know if he did the CPR right, but Stuart replied,” I thought he did it perfectly!”

About 80 percent of cardiac arrests occur in a private residential setting, and 95 percent of these patients die before reaching the hospital. A recent survey showed that only 21 percent of adult Americans felt they could perform CPR.  EVERYONE needs to learn CPR, and now it can't get any easier.

Based on good scientific studies, the American Heart Association in the journal Circulation April 22, 2008 came out with a science advisory advocating Hands-Only CPR (compression only) for laypersons to use if they are unable or unwilling to provide rescue breaths.  

In cases of adults who suddenly collapse, Hands-Only CPR has been found to perform as well as traditional CPR in the first few minutes of an out-of –hospital cardiac arrest.

It is recommended for use by persons who see an adult suddenly collapse, and it consists of 2 simple steps:

1. Call 911, or send someone to do so.
2. Begin chest compressions by pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest with minimal interruptions.

The AHA website provides a video clip illustrating this method, complete with clock ticks to aid in properly timing compressions (100/minute). There is even an app for an I-Phone and I-Pod Touch on the Web site.

It is still best to take a formal CPR class which are offered regularly at the Red Cross Offices in Williamsburg and Yorktown, but first go to the American Heart Association Web site and become familiar with Hands-Only CPR.

Countless times EMS providers have told me tales of arriving at witnessed arrests with no CPR performed at the scene.  Everyone should be prepared to act like Steve Thompson, and afterwards you may hear, “Thank you for saving my life!”