Why the CPR you see on TV is almost always wrong

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• Hands-free CPR is as effective as traditional CPR with artificial respiration.
• You must press at least 2 inches when performing chest compressions.
• Less than 50% of people who experience cardiac arrest outside the hospital benefit from CPR.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is a technique used around the world to help revive a person when his heart has stopped beating. However, the traditional way of performing it is falling into disuse.

You saw it on television and maybe even in real life. One person is in critical condition, another grows on the chest and sometimes gives mouth to mouth puffs of breath. Despite this popularized technique, it may not be the best way to practice CPR.

Studies now show that compression-only CPR, which means no mouth-to-mouth, is as effective as traditional CPR.

"It's easier for people to practice CPR by hand, so it's more often," said Dr. Vidor E. Friedman, FACEP, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

In a recent study published in the journal Circulation, performing a hand-held CPR only doubles the chances of a person's survival at least 30 days after a cardiac arrest. This is the same rate as traditional CPR that involves rescue breaths.

This study involved more than 30 000 people between 2000 and 2017 in Sweden, when hand CPR was adopted in the Swedish directives in this area.

By suppressing emergency breaths between chest compressions, there was a sixfold increase in the use of CPR only by hand throughout the study.

"The respiratory component of CPR is usually not effective. It is therefore essential to pump the blood to preserve the organs, "said Dr. Theodore Strange, physician and badociate director of the Department of Medicine at Staten Island University Hospital.

Strange had a real life experience of a stranger when he organized the New York Marathon.

According to the American Heart Association, less than half of people who experience cardiac arrest outside the hospital undergo CPR. Research has shown that the public is hesitant because of a lack of training, to be mistaken despite the training and even legal consequences badociated with the execution of this saving measure.

Many people are even reluctant to do CPR for fear of disease.

"People are concerned about diseases and germs, and hand-held CPR only offers an opportunity to people who might have a mouth-to-mouth problem," Friedman told Healthline.

He continued, "CPR in hand is simpler and more efficient than traditional CPR and reduces resistance points for the public to perform."

Although Laws of the Good Samaritan are different in each state, protections are in place to avoid litigation in cases where third parties perform CPR with good intent. In spite of differences between states, the American College of Emergency Physicians has developed policy statements encouraging the widespread adoption of laws eliminating any legal liability for bona fide CPR.

Despite some reluctance to perform CPR, CPR by hand alone is a simple task. After calling 911, follow these steps:

1. Place the person on the back and kneel at his side.
2. Place the heel of one of your hands on the center of the person's chest and place the heel of the other hand on the first hand. Lace your fingers together.
3. Keeping your elbows straight, squeeze your chest to the beat of the Bee Gees '' Stayin 'Alive' 1970s song, or at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.

"Historically, CPR has been proven effective. The key is the rapid recognition of a cardiac event and the immediate start of compressions, "Strange said.

Chest compressions that are not deep enough are common mistakes made by those practicing CPR. Studies show that for chest compressions to be effective, the person performing the CPR must depress at least 2 inches deep. In this process, they must allow for complete bad elevation after compression to ensure adequate perfusion or blood flow.

Each year, there are more than 135 million cardiovascular deaths worldwide, including more than 475,000 Americans. It's more than bad cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, pneumonia, road accidents, flu, HIV, firearms and domestic fires combined.

More than 350,000 cardiac arrests take place each year outside the hospital in the United States. Less than 15% of people with heart attacks survive, regardless of their location. But if a person leaves the hospital and undergoes CPR, she has a 45% chance of surviving

Strange said, "For every minute without CPR, a person's chances of survival decrease by 20%. Even with CPR, the majority of these people will not survive. However, this small chance is worth the effort.

A survey conducted by the Cleveland Clinic showed that only half of Americans say they know how to perform CPR, and that only one in six knows that it is recommended to only do chest compressions and not just chest breaths. help.

Despite this, there is always room to learn.

Learning CPR is simple. The American Heart Association offers a one – minute video to teach CPR by hand.

Resuscitation outside hospital by CPR is an ambitious but achievable goal. Early CPR can increase the chances of survival and even achieve long-term neurological recovery. To avoid delaying chest compressions, it is recommended that rescue breaths be avoided between chest compressions.

Friedman recommends that if the person does not respond, you should perform CPR until the arrival of emergency medical services.

"There should be no fear in the practice of CPR. You will not make them worse, "Friedman said. "You can not save their lives and improve them."