How To Use CPR

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How To Use CPR
The air we breathe in travels to our lungs where oxygen is picked up by our blood and then pumped by the heart to our tissue and organs. When a person experience cardiac arrest whether due to heart failure in adults and the elderly or an injury such as near drowning, electrocution or severe trauma in a person the heart goes from a normal beat to an arrhythmic pattern called ventricular fibrillation, and eventually ceases to beat altogether. This prevents oxygen from circulating throughout the body, rapidly killing cells and tissue. Invented in 1960 by the American Heart Association, CARDIO ( Heart), PULMONARY (Lung), RESUSCITATION (Revive, Revitalize) serves as an artificial heartbeat and an artificial respirator. Tonight you will learn the A-B-C method for performing CPR.
According to the American Heart Association there guidelines dictate that CPR is performed on any person over the age of 8. Before you start any rescue efforts, you must remember to check the victim for responsiveness. If there is no response, immediately dial 911 and check for “A” the airway. If the victim is unconscious and is unresponsive, you need to make sure that his airway is clear of any obstructions. The breaths may be faint and shallow so look, listen, and feel for any signs of breathing. If you determine that the victim is not breathing, then something may be blocking his air passage. The tongue is the most common airway obstruction in an unconscious person. This is when you need to reposition there head.
After checking the airway and the person is still not breathing on his own and the airway has been cleared, you will have to assist him with “B” breathing. With the victim’s airway clear of any obstructions, gently support his chin so as to keep it lifted up and the head tilted back. Pinch his nose with your fingertips to prevent air from escaping once you begin to ventilate and place your mouth over the victim’s...