Adult CPR Introduction

Video 9 of 49
2 min 17 sec
English
English
Want to watch this video? Sign up for the course or enter your email below to watch one free video.

Unlock This Video Now for FREE

This video is normally available to paying customers.
You may unlock this video for FREE. Enter your email address for instant access AND to receive ongoing updates and special discounts related to this topic.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): Saving Lives

1. Understanding CPR

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a vital technique employed when someone ceases to breathe. Learn about its significance:

1.1 The Heart's Role

Your heart is a remarkable organ responsible for pumping oxygenated blood throughout your body. Discover how it functions:

  • The right-hand side of your heart sends blood to the lungs for oxygenation.
  • Oxygenated blood returns to the left-hand side of the heart.
  • From there, it's distributed through arteries, capillaries, and organs.
  • Deoxygenated blood returns to the heart through veins, completing the cycle.

1.2 Heart's Electrical System

Understand the heart's electric signals and its ability to contract:

  • Electric shocks generated within the heart's pacemakers cause muscle contractions.
  • These contractions are responsible for the heart's rhythmic beating.
  • Blockages or disruptions can impair blood flow or lead to cardiac arrest.

1.3 Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)

In emergency situations, around 85% to 90% of cases involve VF, an abnormal twitching of the heart:

  • During VF, the heart quivers, failing to pump blood effectively.
  • CPR aims to maintain oxygen-rich blood circulation throughout the body.
  • Reviving the heart requires a defibrillator and, sometimes, medications from paramedics.

2. Performing CPR

CPR may seem complex, but the technique is straightforward and can be a lifesaver:

2.1 Check for Breathing

You don't need to assess the heart's activity; simply determine if the person is breathing:

  • If no breathing is observed, initiate CPR immediately.
  • CPR's primary goal is to sustain oxygen supply to vital organs.

Remember, the heart's restart is achieved through a defibrillator or medical intervention. CPR keeps oxygen flowing until help arrives.