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The idea is to keep the blood flowing above all, and skip the mouth-to-mouth breathing. It is supposed to yield equivalent results. AND, have someone call 911 NOW.
The technique is to put one hand on the lower end of the person’s breastbone/ sternum, and the other one on top of it. Then, push forcefully down 100 hundred times a minute. The downward thrust is suggested to be about 2 inches.
For most of us, you cannot push too hard. For you who can bench press 400 pounds, be careful. I guess if you hear the splintering, cracking sound of bone, you’re pressing a little too hard?
It is tiring. So, be prepared to work and trade off if someone else is there. But change places quickly!
The new approach is hoped to encourage people to be less afraid to partake in resuscitation. The concept of mouth-to-mouth contact can be unpleasant and repulsive to some.
Of the estimated 310,000 people in the U.S. who die of cardiac arrest, only about 6 percent survive outside a hospital. People who get prompt CPR until trained, equipped medical help arrives double or triple their chances of making it. Keeping even partially oxygenated blood flowing to brain and heart tissues is vital. For children with drowning, drug overdose or carbon monoxide poisoning, the mouth-to mouth part is still recommended. That would be roughly two big breaths then 15 to 17 chest compressions.
Having moonlit in emergency rooms during my dermatology residency. I fully understand the crucial importance of CPR before hitting the ER.
Also, from a personal experience, I think the elimination of the oral contact will make the CPR less intimidating. As proud parents, a few years ago we attended our son’s sixth-grade orchestra concert. Right in the middle of it, a retching sound emanated from somewhere behind us. A moment later, the classic words rang out through the auditorium: “Is there a doctor in the house?” My wife looked at me. I looked at her, shrugged and got up. A middle-aged gentleman was unconscious in the aisle. Another woman, a lab tech at our clinic whose son also was performing, came too. I looked at her. She looked at me. I said, “Do you want to push or breathe?” She chose the breathing. Unfortunately, the victim regurgitated some supper food into her mouth as she was blowing in. But, she was a trooper and kept at it. The ambulance people arrived finally and took over.
Sadly, the fellow did not make it. It turns out that he had gone to supper before coming to the concert, and during the initial sound where he gagged, had thrown up some food, which had gone down his windpipe. Had we known that, we would have likely laid off the breathing. But, when the situation is desperate, you try everything! The lab tech was very understandably concerned for quite a while about any possible contagious afflictions the patient could have transmitted. She turned out fine.
If the wise and knowing experts feel the breathing part isn’t essential, well and good. With any luck, it will encourage more people to try to help an unconscious person. A good idea is always worth repeating. Chest compressions, a hundred a minute until the cavalry comes. Another good idea worth repeating could be, if at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you, eh?
