Know Your Symptoms with Your Health Buddy: CPR

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CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation): Methods, Misconceptions, and Can You Perform It Without Certification?

Hello, it’s your health buddy! Let’s feel better together. Today, I’m here to share some symptom insights and helpful tips about CPR. Let’s dive in!

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is the first and most effective emergency procedure for a person in cardiac arrest. It involves securing the airway, providing ventilation, and performing chest compressions to restore circulation. However, many people either do not know how to perform it correctly or panic in an emergency. Others hesitate because they lack certification, lack confidence, or fear legal consequences. Let’s debunk some common misconceptions about CPR.

Why Is CPR Essential?

The heart functions as a pump that supplies blood throughout the body. It continuously receives and distributes blood, ensuring vital organs like the brain, liver, and lungs get the oxygen they need. You can feel this process by placing your hand over your chest and sensing your heartbeat—each pump sends blood throughout your body.

If the heart stops, it can no longer supply blood to critical organs. The brain is particularly vulnerable; without blood flow, severe brain damage can occur. Even if the heart is later restarted, brain damage may cause lasting effects, making normal daily life impossible. The longer cardiac arrest continues, the higher the risk of a fatal outcome.

The key is how quickly a person in cardiac arrest receives CPR. Ideally, CPR should be performed within four minutes—this is known as the "golden time," and the faster it is administered, the higher the chances of survival.

How to Perform CPR

CPR is generally performed either by trained emergency responders or by bystanders who witness the incident. In most cases, it is bystanders who must take immediate action. If you witness someone collapse, follow these seven steps:

1. Check for a Response

Ensure the area is safe from hazards.
Gently tap the person’s shoulder and check if they respond.
If there is no response, assume cardiac arrest.

2. Call 911

Ask a specific person nearby to call 911. If alone, make the call yourself.
If an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is available, use it immediately.

3. Check for Breathing

Observe the person's face and chest for breathing for up to 10 seconds.
If there is no breathing or it appears abnormal, assume cardiac arrest.
If untrained, follow guidance from the emergency dispatcher.

4. Perform 30 Chest Compressions

Lay the person on a firm, flat surface.
Kneel beside them and position yourself over their chest.
Place the heel of one hand in the center of the chest, stack the other hand on top, and interlock fingers.
Keep your arms straight and use your body weight to press down hard and fast.
Perform compressions at a rate of 100–120 per minute, with a depth of about 5 cm (2 inches).
Count out loud to maintain rhythm.

5. Provide Rescue Breaths (Optional)

Tilt the head back and lift the chin to open the airway.
If there are visible obstructions (e.g., vomit), remove them.
Pinch the nose shut, take a deep breath, and blow into the person’s mouth for one second.
Watch for the chest to rise, then let the air escape.
If unsure or unwilling to perform rescue breaths, continue chest compressions only.

6. Repeat Compressions and Breaths

Continue alternating between 30 compressions and two rescue breaths.
Keep performing CPR until medical professionals arrive.
If multiple people are present, take turns to prevent fatigue.

7. Recovery Position

If the person starts moving or making sounds, check for normal breathing.
If breathing is restored, turn them onto their side to prevent airway blockage.
If they stop breathing again, resume CPR immediately.

Common Misconceptions About CPR

Q: Do I need certification or training to perform CPR?

A: No. Anyone can perform CPR, even without formal training. However, pressing the correct location on the chest is crucial for effectiveness. Learning the basic method in advance can be life-saving.

Q: Is CPR training expensive or only available in special institutions?

A: No. CPR training is often free and accessible online. Organizations like the Korean Association of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and the Red Cross offer free CPR courses, including in-person training sessions.

Q: Will I be punished if I break someone's ribs while performing CPR?

A: CPR requires strong chest compressions, and rib fractures can occur. However, if CPR is performed in good faith to save a life, legal protection is in place, and you will not be punished.

Q: What if the patient or their family sues me?

A: Even if a patient or their family files a complaint, laws like the “Good Samaritan Law” protect bystanders who provide emergency assistance. However, if unnecessary actions are taken when there is no emergency, legal consequences may apply.

The Importance of CPR

Many news reports highlight cases where CPR saved lives because bystanders acted quickly. However, some stories also describe legal disputes, which can discourage people from intervening. Even those trained in CPR may hesitate when faced with a real emergency.

Despite this, immediate CPR from a witness or bystander is the most effective lifesaving measure. It is a selfless act that can make the difference between life and death. Knowing CPR can help not only strangers but also our own family and friends in emergencies.

Your health buddy is here for you. Wishing you a healthy and happy day ahead. Stay well!💖

This content is for informational purposes only and does not hold any individual or entity legally responsible. For accurate diagnosis and treatment of symptoms, please visit a nearby medical institution. This does not represent my final medical opinion and may vary depending on specific circumstances and evolving medical perspectives.

Basic Emergency CPR: The Faster, the Higher the Survival Rate

Hello, it’s your health buddy! Let’s feel better together. Today, I’m here to share some symptom insights and helpful tips about CPR. Let’s dive in!

Performing CPR within 1 minute, 2 minutes, or 4 minutes results in survival rates of 97%, 90%, and 50%, respectively. However, after 10 minutes, brain cells begin to die almost completely.

Let’s go over the correct way to perform CPR.

Adult CPR Procedure

If you find someone unconscious, shake their shoulders and ask, "Are you okay?" to check for a response. If the person responds by moving, speaking, or making sounds, they are conscious. However, if they don’t respond or their breathing is abnormal, it is likely cardiac arrest, and you must immediately call 911.

If others are nearby, point to someone and tell them to call 911 and bring an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) if available. If you’re alone, shout loudly for help to see if anyone is around to assist.

Ambulances are equipped with life-saving equipment and trained personnel, so calling 911 is the most critical step.

When calling 911, provide the following details:

Location of the emergency
What happened
Patient’s condition
Current first aid being performed

If possible, turn on speakerphone so the 911 dispatcher can guide you through CPR. Stay on the call until they instruct you to hang up.

Performing Chest Compressions

After calling 911, begin chest compressions. The 2015 CPR guidelines suggested placing the patient on a flat, firm surface, but 2020 guidelines now recommend performing CPR on a bed if moving the patient to the floor is difficult.

Additionally, if the airway is blocked by an object and the person cannot cough effectively, the 2020 guidelines recommend trying back blows first and then performing abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) if needed.

For chest compressions:

Place the heel of one hand on the lower half of the breastbone.
Place the other hand on top, keeping fingers interlocked and off the chest.
Keep arms straight and position shoulders directly over the hands for effective pressure.
Press hard and fast at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute, pressing at least 2 inches (5 cm) deep.

This force helps pump blood to the brain. In CPR, anyone over age 8 is treated as an adult.

After 30 compressions, provide 2 rescue breaths as follows:

Tilt the person’s head back to open the airway.
Pinch their nose shut and place your mouth over theirs to form a seal.
Take a normal breath and blow into their mouth for 1 second, ensuring the chest rises.

Continue with the 30 compressions → 2 breaths cycle without long pauses, as any delay stops blood flow to the brain. If you’re unsure how to give breaths, continue chest compressions only without stopping.

CPR with Two Rescuers

If two people are performing CPR:

One person should continue chest compressions, while
The other provides 2 rescue breaths every 30 compressions.

Since chest compressions are physically exhausting, switch roles every 2 minutes to maintain effectiveness.

According to the 2020 guidelines, basic CPR should continue for 6 minutes, and advanced life support teams should provide care for up to 10 minutes before transporting the patient to a hospital.

Continue CPR until the ambulance arrives and emergency responders take over.

Using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

If an AED arrives:

Turn it on and follow the voice instructions.
Attach the electrode pads to the patient’s chest.
Allow the AED to analyze the heart rhythm and follow its directions.

If a shock is needed, the AED will guide you through the process. Continue CPR between shocks as directed.

CPR Awareness & Survival Rates

Thanks to efforts by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC, and the American Heart Association, public CPR training rates have significantly increased.

This has led to higher survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest, with more patients regaining full brain function after recovery.

However, there’s still room for improvement. Every year, over 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the U.S., yet bystander CPR rates remain low.

To compare:

Sweden: 55% of cardiac arrest cases receive bystander CPR
U.S.: 30.8%

More resources on CPR can be found on the CDC website (www.cdc.gov).

A single hour of training can help you save a life—whether it’s a family member, a friend, or even a stranger.

Making CPR a Habit

To spread awareness, post CPR instructions in common areas or hallways at home, work, or school.

Final reminder: If someone loses consciousness, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY and perform chest compressions until help arrives.

Learning CPR could save someone’s life—and one day, someone else might save yours.