how are they teaching CPR

[reppy007]

Ive seen where now when preforming CPR they are not giving mouth to mouth,only chest compressions is that the way some of you are being taught now? What do you say about that Clive?

[BigClive]

It depends on the circumstances. The use of chest compressions only and the increased rate of them is based on the existing oxygen present in the bloodstream being circulated around the brain and other parts. If no help was likely to arrive in the immediate future I'd still consider assisted breathing too.

[thrasher]

A lot of the changes are based on the public's resistance to doing mouth to mouth with a stranger because of fear of infection. Also in either New Mexico or Arizona some hospital did a study and showed that if the airway was clear there was some exchange of air to the lungs just from the chest compressions. The other reason is the Red Cross and others said that most CPR givers were spending so much time shifting back and forth to give breaths or compressions that an inadequate number of compressions were being done per minute. Several rescue squads in the US have gone to the chest compression only method (with a clear airway) and have had as good of results as old style CPR.

[bren guzzi]

A lot of the changes are based on the public's resistance to doing mouth to mouth with a stranger because of fear of infection. Also in either New Mexico or Arizona some hospital did a study and showed that if the airway was clear there was some exchange of air to the lungs just from the chest compressions. The other reason is the Red Cross and others said that most CPR givers were spending so much time shifting back and forth to give breaths or compressions that an inadequate number of compressions were being done per minute. Several rescue squads in the US have gone to the chest compression only method (with a clear airway) and have had as good of results as old style CPR.

Havnt had first aid or pole top rescue in 3 years now :(

I put it on the "risk assesment every day...... So if anything goes wrong. At least I've a paper trail..... :(

[stulittle]

I teach it and we deliver it both ways, compressions only and compressions and ventilation. The thinking goes that anything is better than nothing and if a lay person only does compressions because they don't want to get "down and personal" with the patient then they are still buying time.
Personally I'm trained for bag and mask so would use that in preference to mouth to mouth as it's easier to manage the airway.

There was an article in the news over here this week where a maintenance worker received a shock knocking him from a step ladder and into cardiac arrest. Passers by commenced correct and a defib was nearby, he was shocked before paramedic arrived and was alive on arrival at hospital.

Remember its all about the chain of survival, early cpr, early defib, early ALS, early hospital


Stu