Health Question about CPR

[tandino]

If your only knowledge of CPR is derived from television shows and movies, how well would you go in a real life situation?

 

[Dagless]

If your only knowledge of CPR is derived from television shows and movies, how well would you go in a real life situation?

I would think you would be surprised when the body doesn't magically come back to life.

 

[Messenger]

Even in a healthcare environment, the survival rate is low (about 30% IIRC).

I'm trained in Basic Life Support for work and surrounded by trained people, it doesn't always go well. In fact the first few I witnessed 9or was peripherally involved in all went badly (for the patient).

 

[hawker92]

I don't think many people would know the proper chest compressions: breaths ratio (30:2 I was taught)

 

[Quinz]

Even those trained in CPR have a very low chance of bringing the person back without a defibrillator. You'd be able to do alright with the compressions I guess based off television, but TV dramatically exaggerates how easy it is to get someone's heart started again using only CRP.

 

[bresker]

I've been on a few CPR courses and the instructor has basically said "Well done if you have a go but no-one's expecting you to."

 

[Jimmybob]

Are you supposed to hold their nose shut whilst giving breaths? I'm sure I heard a few years back that the view on that had changed and you're not actually supposed to.

And should you start with chest compression or breaths first? Does it matter?

 

[Quinz]

Latest course that I went on, late last year, they were saying to simplify things they don't teach the 30/2 any more and that you should only do compressions. Hands only CPR, pushing the chest to the beat of the song 'Stayin' Alive'- helped me to remember it.

 

[bresker]

America has done away with breaths but we are still officially breathers

 

[Twoslabs]

After being a member of St John Ambulance for 5yrs with all that training the first time I had to do was so damned scary I basically forgot everything I'd learnt.

Good news though me and the other bystander that stepped up to the plate actually had a "win"

 

[bresker]

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/t...ves-ambulance-to-hospital-20140506-zr59z.html

Good effort by our floor sanding hero. I need my kitchen floor sanded, should employ this bloke.

 

[kickazz]

Also often on TV they are not really even doing compressions they bend their elbows too much and apply basically no force at all.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

it is mandatory to do a CPR class in school in QLD when I went through grade 12

 

[JasRulz63]

They're considering changing the guidelines to take out the breaths because people generally don't do properly or at all, and it wastes time that could be used for compressions. It's still in the guidelines for now though.

 

[Flash of power]

I was told in first aid training that the point of doing CPR was really only to keep the blood flowing and oxygen to the lungs - essentially just keeping the person viable until medical attention / ambulance can take over and as they are the only ones that are realistically going to offer a real chance of revival.

I imagine it would be pretty hard work doing CPR on someone for any length of time, especially solo.