Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is one of the most common healthcare procedures known by laypeople. Better known as CPR, the procedure is appropriately administered when people have no pulse, a lack of regularity in their breathing, are unconscious, or show absolutely zero signs of being alive, all of which are symptoms associated with cardiac arrest. Although people of all ages know how to perform CPR, there are far too many myths, misunderstandings and misconceptions about cardiopulmonary resuscitation and cardiac arrest. Here are a few things you should understand about CPR and cardiac arrest.
Cardiac Arrest Is Not the Same as a Heart Attack
With heart attacks, a chamber of the heart becomes blocked. This blockage prevents blood from flowing throughout the body. When it comes to cardiac arrest, the heart remains unblocked, although it does stop pumping blood. Experts in CPR in Austin, TX, feel it is important to know the difference.
Rescue Breathing Isn’t Necessarily Part of CPR
The primary objective of CPR is to make sure that the blood inside someone’s body whose heart is not active keeps circulating throughout the arteries and blood vessels. Even though we feel lightheaded after just a few seconds of holding our breath, oxygen remains in our blood for up to three or four minutes. The purpose of CPR in Austin, TX, is to keep this oxygenated blood flowing until the victim comes back to life, or is resuscitated. This only requires someone to perform chest compressions, not breathe into the victim’s mouth, which is known as rescue breathing.
Poor-Form CPR Is Better Than No CPR
Although it will always be ideal for an expert to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques in people who suffer from cardiac arrest, it’s always better for someone who barely knows how to perform the procedure to administer it to someone who has experienced cardiac arrest than not perform CPR at all.
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