Pakistan Red Crescent Society

' The Voluntary Service is more than a philosophy, a treaty, or a historical institution. It is the embodiment of a worldwide belief that human life and dignity are worthy of respect and protection from the ravages of man and nature. It is a belief that is made real every day by the actions of skilled and trained people who are motivated by a deep personal desire to help others without regard for their own material gain.'

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QUICK FACTS ON CARDIOPULMUNARY RESUSCITATION (CPR)

Q. What is cardiopulmonary resuscitation?

A. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure that can save the life ofil person who has stopped breathing (respiratory arrest) or whose heart has stopped beating (cardiac arrest). CPR has two parts: 1) mouth-to- mouth ventilation-breathing into the person's mouth to fill the lungs with air and 2) chest compressions - pressing forcefully and rhythmically on the person's chest to keep blood circulating through the body.

Q. What causes cardiac arrest?

A. Causes of cardiac arrest include drowning, electric shock, drug overdoses, and hearr disease. In children, cardiac arrest is usually caused by respiratory arrest-in other words, when stoppage of breathing (due to accident or disease, such as asthma) leads to stoppage of the heart. In adults, the most common cause of cardiac arrest is heart disease.

Q. What happens during a cardiac arrest?

A. In most cardiac arrests, the heart goes from a .rhythmic heartbeat to an uncoordinated quivering motion called "ventricular fibrillation." This is fatal-unless the heartbeat can be restored by giving an electric shock called defibrillation. CPR cannot stop ventricular fibrillation, but it can often keep the person alive long enough for medical help to arrive.

Q. Is a cardiac arrest the same thing as a heart attack?

A. No. In cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating because of many possible reasons, which include heart attack. Most people who have a heart attack-caused by a blocked heart artery-do not go on to have cardiac arrest.

Q: Does CPR really work?

A: Yes-ifit is started within minutes after a cardiac arrest. The longer the delay, the less the person's chance of survival. For example, if CPR is started within 4 minutes after a cardiac arrest (and if defibrillation is given within 8 minutes), the person has a better than 40% chance of survival. But if CPR is not started until 8 minutes after cardiac arrest, the chances of survival are less than 7%.

Q: I'd be afraid to do mouth-to-mouth breathing on a total stranger. Couldn't I catch a disease? What about AIDS?

A: There is some risk of getting an infection from mouth-to-mouth breathing. However, there are no documented cases of transmission of AIDS to a person giving CPR. Some people who have CPR training carry a protective mask that can be placed over the person's mouth. This prevents direct contact while allowing air to pass through.

Q: I've heard that CPR works just as well without mouth-to-mouth breathing. Please explain.

A: When cardiac arrest is caused by heart disease, there is usually plenty of oxygen in the blood for a few minutes after the heart stops. During those first few minutes, mouth-to-mouth ventilation might not be necessary - chest compression by itself may be effective as long as medical help arrives very quickly to give defibrillation.
In younger people particularly children mouth-to-mouth ventilation is vital, because cardiac arrest is usually caused by breathing stoppage. Finally, even though the guidelines for adult CPR may change in the future, until then, if you've had CPR training, it's probably still best to do it the way you were taught-using mouth-to-mouth ventilation along with chest compression. If you haven't had training and you witness a cardiac arrest, call medical help.

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