Q. How crucial is cardio pulmonary resuscitation?
A. For every minute a person goes without CPR, chances of survival decrease by 10%. Almost 90% of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die due to lack of awareness on CPR. On the other hand, scores of people have survived due to timely administration of CPR.
Q. Would CPR be required in cases of heart attack (myocardial infraction) and stroke ?
A. Yes, only in case the Casualty stops breathing. CPR has to be continued in such cases until medical help arrives.
Q. Your list does not show any CPR training organisation in the city where I live. How do I get trained in CPR?
A. Please enquire with healthcare NGOs (if any) in your city. Alternately, you may send us a message and we will try to help you.
Q. What would you expect from donors and visitors to this site?
A. Please ‘Like’ us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and ask your relatives and friends to do likewise. Please publicize about CPRsavesLIFE, through word-of-mouth.
Q. What is the best method to get in touch with CPRsavesLIFE?
A. In case your phone number is linked with Whatsapp, we prefer that you send us a Whatsapp message to 9820013164. Other options are by filling up the 'Contact Us' form or by sending an email to us.
Q. Is it enough to check whether the victim is breathing or is pulse also should be checked?
A. Rescuers should not waste time by trying to check pulse. This is because it is difficult for untrained rescuers to detect the absence of pulse quickly.
Q. Does Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) strike elderly more often?
A. Yes. That’s because heart disease is a major risk factor to cause SCA and elderly are much more likely than younger people to suffer from heart disease.
Q. Can a heart attack lead to a sudden cardiac arrest?
A. If a heart attack occurs, often as a result of severe coronary artery disease, it can trigger ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest.
Q. Why does a person become unconscious during sudden cardiac arrest?
A. Supply of oxygenated blood is interrupted due to sudden cardiac arrest. Lack of oxygen supply to brain cells leads to unconsciousness.
Q. What are the other situations requiring CPR?
A. CPR should be performed even when cardiac arrest is due to electric shock, allergic reactions of severe nature, near-drowning, suffocation and drug overdose. However, in these cases traditional CPR (chest compressions & mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, carried out by trained persons) is preferable rather than Hands-only CPR performed by untrained responders.
Q. Can someone who has not undergone CPR training, help a victim of SCA?
A. It's better to perform CPR imperfectly than not at all. However, he or she should carry out ‘Hands-Only CPR’ without resorting to mouth-to-mouth breaths.
Q. Is it necessary to remove the victim's clothing before commencing CPR?
A. While chest compressions can be carried out with clothes on, usage of defibrillator would necessitate removal of clothing because pads have to be attached to bare skin.
Q. Should CPR be stopped if the victim gasps?
A. Not at all. Gasping is a sign of cardiac arrest and often occurs for a while soon after the arrest and will continue when effective compressions are being delivered.
Q. Is carrying out CPR tiring?
A. It’s true that CPR causes fatigue, especially when it goes on for a longer period due to delayed arrival of an ambulance or an AED. If another trained person is present, the first responder can ask the former to take over. It really helps if CPR-givers are physically fit.
Q. What if the rescuer gets tired during chest compressions?
A. Chest compressions are hard work and it is natural for the rescuer to get tired after a few minutes, especially when the rescuer is not young and/or is not physically very fit. Ideally, someone nearby can take over. However, there must be less than a 10 seconds delay when the switch takes place.
Q. What happens when a woman suffers a SCA and there in no lady nearby to give her CPR?
A. The differences between the physical bodies of a man and woman make men hesitant to administer CPR on women. A constant apprehension of falling into trouble while helping the opposite gender often stops the men from performing CPR on a woman. But since saving life is paramount, men should overcome the hesitation and carry out CPR.
Q. Why should you ask for cardiac ambulance and not a regular ambulance?
A. A cardiac ambulance is equipped with a defibrillator. This will enable the cardiac ambulance staff to give shock to the victim who was already being given CPR. The revived victim is then transported by the ambulance to the hospital.
Q. Youngsters may be ideal to learn CPR, but can middle-aged also get trained in it?
A. Of course, anyone who is physically fit can learn CPR. Women too, as much as men, are equally competent in performing CPR after training.
Q. In households, who should undergo training ?
A. Ideally, at least one member of the household, who is physical fit, should undergo training for CPR. This is particularly applicable to families with elderly members and/or those who have a history of heart problems.
Q. Is CPR training provided free-of-cost?
A. NGOs either do not charge any fees or charge a small fee towards expenses. Hospitals, business organisations and companies do charge regular fees. Do ascertain by enquiring on phone.
Q. How can housing societies, community groups etc ensure a CPR training camp at their location?
A. Certain NGOs and hospitals hold these camps. You may contact them directly to enquire or you can enquire through us .
Q. Can a person with only a basic idea of Automated External Defibrillator (AED) , operate the same in an emergency?
A. Anyone can use a defibrillator. First of all, the 2 pads are to be applied to a patients bare chest (positions shown on the AED). The AED will then analyse the patient’s heart rhythm and may advise you to continue CPR. If the AED deems that the patient to has no effective cardiac output, the machine will advise a shock. If the first shock doesn't restart the heart, the AED may ask for continuation of CPR until the machine detects another opportune moment to a second shock.
Q. What are the precautions to be taken in respect of AED?
A. No one should touch the victim during delivery of the electrical shock by an AED. Do not use an AED if the person is in or near water. It’s fine if the victim is lying on a metal bench or bed, but the pads should not come in contact with the metal surface.
Q. AEDs installed at public places , have attendants trained to operate the same?
A. At some locations, yes. In such a case, it will be better that the trained attendant accompanies the AED to the victim’s location.