Heart ailment is the largest cause of death in the United States. Every year, heart disease kills around 300,000 Americans. Most of the heart patients lose their lives because their heart stops beating suddenly. If first aid is administered within minutes to the patient whose heart stops beating, he or she has a great chance of surviving. First aid courses teach you how to give Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to save lives.

You can use this lifesaving technique under emergency situations. If you give CPR first aid to the sufferer at the earliest, the chances of recovery becomes multifold.

Things To Know About First Aid and CPR

If you are well trained in CPR, you can start giving first aid to the patient having a heart attack. CPR includes artificial respiration and manual cardiac massage which help prevent irreversible brain damage and/or death.

– The first step is to check the victim’s pulse. If the pulse has stopped, check for pulse in the neck. If there is no pulse, you can be sure that the victim’s heart has stopped. It is then time to start CPR immediately.

– Giving artificial respiration is the most important step in CPR. It is a lifesaving technique that helps restore breathing to the victim. If the victim has stopped breathing, he/she will become unconscious soon. The skin will turn pale or become bluish. It is an indication that there is no oxygen supply to the blood. This can cause brain damage and death may occur within a few minutes. Artificial respiration can help reduce damage. It is important to continue giving artificial respiration until medical help comes.

– If the victim starts breathing, you must check whether the breathing is normal. Continue to carefully observe the victim until the doctor arrives and takes over.

– Mouth to mouth resuscitation is the most effective method of artificial respiration. It is important to assess the responsiveness of the victim while giving artificial respiration. Shake gently and ask “are you ok”.

– If the location is close to dangerous gases or fire, move the victim away immediately.

– Place the victim on a firm surface face up.

– Carefully monitor and ensure that the airway remains open as often it is blocked by the tongue. You can give backward pressure with your palm to open the airway. If you suspect neck injury, do not move the head. You can open the airway by placing your fingers under the chin and trying to bring it forward. You must remove any foreign material or vomitus that block the air passage from the victim’s throat.

– External cardiac massage can help the victim’s heart pump blood again to other parts of the body. This massage must be given along with artificial respiration. You can give external cardiac compression and continue to apply and release the pressure at the rate of 60 compressions per minute.

Administering first aid CPR helps you to keep oxygenated blood flowing to the victim’s heart and blood, until medical help arrives. Learn more and help save lives today.

For more information, please visit our first aid courses website.

For more information, please visit our first aid courses website http://www.firstaidexams.com

Author Bio: For more information, please visit our first aid courses website.

Category: Advice
Keywords: Artificial respiration ,Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation ,Heart ailment ,CPR.First Aid