Campus Security

CPR is a life saving technique that is useful in emergencies situations in which someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped; such as heart attacks or near drowning.

Ideally, CPR involves two elements:

• Chest compressions.
• Mouth to mouth rescue breathing.

What you will, or can do as a bystander in an emergency situation really depends on your knowledge and comfort level.

The bottom line is that it’s far better to do something than to do nothing at all, even if you’re fearful that your knowledge or abilities aren’t one hundred percent complete.

Remember; the difference between you doing something or nothing at all could be someone’s life.

HERE’S ADVICE FROM THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

• UNTRAINED - If you’re not trained in CPR, then provide hands only CPR. That means uninterrupted chest compressions of about 100 a minute until paramedics arrive; you don’t need to try rescue breathing.
• TRAINED, AND READY TO GO - If you’re well trained, and confident in your ability, then you can opt for one of two approaches:
  1. Alternate between 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths.
  2. Just do chest compressions.
• TRAINED, BUT RUSTY - If you’ve previously received CPR training, but you’re not confident in your abilities, then just do chest compressions at a rate of about 100 a minute until paramedics arrive.

The above advice applies only to adults needing CPR; not children.

CPR can keep oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs until more definitive medical treatment can restore a normal heart rhythm.

When the heart stops, the absence of oxygenated blood can cause irreparable brain damage in only a few minutes. A person may die within eight to ten minutes.

To learn CPR properly, take an accredited first-aid training course, including CPR and how to use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).

BEFORE YOU BEGIN AND BEFORE STARTING CPR, CHECK/DO THE FOLLOWING

• Is the person conscious or unconscious?
• If the person appears unconscious, tap or shake the victims shoulder and loudly, “Are you OK?”

If the person doesn’t respond and two people are available, one should call 911 or the local emergency number and one should begin CPR. If you are alone and have immediate access to a telephone, call 911 before beginning CPR - unless you think the person has become unresponsive because of suffocation (such as from drowning). In this special case, begin CPR for one minute and then call 911.

After calling 911, and when its safe to do so, call the Department of Campus Safety and Security at (206) 934-5442 for further assistance; calmly answer all questions asked by safety and security dispatcher; do not hang up unless directed to do so.

If an AED is immediately available, deliver one shock if instructed by the device, then begin CPR.

REMEMBER THE ABC’s

Think ABC - Airway, Breathing and Circulation - to remember the steps explained below. Move quickly through airway and breathing to begin chest compressions.

AIRWAY: CLEAR THE AIRWAY

• Put the person on his or her back on a firm surface.
• Kneel next to the person’s neck and shoulders.
• Open the person’s airway using the head tilt, chin lift maneuver.
• Put your palm on the person’s forehead and gently tilt the head back.
• Then with the other hand, gently lift the chin forward to open the airway.
• Check for normal breathing, taking no more than five or ten seconds.
• Look for chest motion.
• Listen for normal breathing sounds.
• Feel for the person’s breath on your cheek and ear.
• Gasping is not considered to be normal breathing.

If the person isn’t breathing normally and you are trained in CPR, begin mouth to mouth breathing.

If you believe the person is unconscious from a heart attack and you haven’t been trained in emergency procedures, skip mouth to mouth rescue breathing and proceed directly to chest compressions.

BREATHING: BREATHE FOR THE PERSON

• Rescue breathing can be mouth to mouth breathing or mouth to nose breathing if the mouth is seriously injured or can’t be opened.
• With the airway open (using the head tilt, chin lift maneuver), pinch the nostrils shut for mouth to mouth breathing and cover the person’s mouth with yours, making a seal.
• Prepare to give two rescue breaths.
• Give the first rescue breath lasting one second.
• Watch to see if chest rises.
• If chest rises, give a second breath.
• If chest doesn’t rise, repeat the head tilt, chin lift maneuver and then give a second breath.
• After administering rescue breath, begin chest compression to restore circulation.

CIRCULATION: RESTORE BLOOD CIRCULATION WITH CHEST COMPRESSIONS

• Place the heel of one hand over the center of the person’s chest, between the nipples.
• Place your other hand on top of the first hand.
• Keep your elbows straight and position your shoulders directly above your hands.
• Use your upper body weight (not just your arms) as you push straight down on (compress) the chest two inches (approximately 5 centimeters).
• Push hard at a rate of 100 compressions per minute.
• After 30 compressions, tilt the head back and lift chin up to open airway.
• Prepare to give two rescue breaths.
• Pinch the nose shut and breathe into the mouth for one second.
• Watch to see if chest rises.
• If chest rises, give a second breath.
• If chest doesn’t rise, repeat the head tilt, chin lift maneuver and then give a second breath.
• That’s one cycle.
• If someone else is available, ask that person to give two breaths after you do 30 compressions.

If you’re not trained in CPR and feel comfortable performing only chest compressions, skip rescue breathing and continue chest compressions at a rate of 100 compressions a minute until medical personnel arrive.

IF THE PERSON HAS NOT BEGUN MOVING AFTER FIVE CYCLES (ABOUT TWO MINUTES) AND AN AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR (AED) IS AVAILABLE, APPLY IT AND FOLLOW PROMPTS.

Administer one shock, and then resume CPR starting with chest compressions for two more minutes before administering a second shock.

If you’re not trained to use an AED, a 911 operator may be able to guide you in its use. Use pediatric pads, if available, for children ages 1 to 8.

DO NOT USE AN AED FOR BABIES YOUNGER THAN AGE 1.

If an AED isn’t available, continue CPR until there are signs of movement or until emergency medical personnel take over.

PLEASE CLICK ON LINK BELOW TO VIEW THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION VIDEO DEMONSTRATION ON HOW TO PERFORM ADULT CPR.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbnqAhh3iy8

TO PERFORM CPR ON A CHILD

The procedure for giving CPR to a child age 1 through 8 is essentially the same as that for an adult.

THE DIFFERENCES ARE AS FOLLOWS

• If you’re alone, perform five cycles of compression and breaths on the child.
• This should take about two minutes.
• After completing five cycles, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
• If necessary, administer (AED) Automatic External Defibrillator shock.
• Use only one hand to perform heart compressions; two if necessary.
• Breathe more gently.
• Use the same compression breath rate that is used for adults; 30 compressions followed by two breaths.
• This is one cycle.
• Following the two breaths, immediately begin the next cycle of compressions and breaths.
• After five cycles (about two minutes) of CPR, if there is no response and an (AED) Automatic External Defibrillator is available, apply it and follow prompts.
• Use pediatric pads if available.
• If pediatric pads aren’t available, use adult pads.

Continue CPR until you see signs of life, or until medical personnel arrive.

Please click on link below to view the American Heart Association video demonstration on how to perform CPR on a child.

http://www.youtube.com/watch…

TO PERFORM CPR ON A BABY

Most cardiac arrest in babies occurs from lack of oxygen from such things as drowning or choking.

If you know the baby has an airway obstruction; perform first aid for infant choking.

If you don’t know why the baby isn’t breathing; perform infant CPR.

To begin, examine the situation, stroke the baby and watch for a response movement; DON’T SHAKE THE BABY!

IF THERE’S NO RESPONSE, FOLLOW THE ABC PROCEDURES BELOW AND TIME THE CALL FOR HELP AS FOLLOWS

• If you’re the only rescuer and CPR is needed, do CPR for two minutes, about five cycles before calling 911 or your local emergency number.
• If another person is available, have that person call for help immediately while you attend to the baby.

AIRWAY: CLEAR THE AIRWAY

• Place the baby on his or her back on a firm, flat surface, such as a table.
• The floor or ground will also do.
• Gently tip the head back by lifting the chin with one hand and pushing down on the forehead with the other hand.
• For no more then ten seconds, put your ear near the baby’s mouth and check for breathing.
• Look for chest motion.
• Listen for breath sounds, and feel for breath on your cheek and ear.

If the infant isn’t breathing, begin mouth to mouth rescue breathing immediately; compression only CPR doesn’t work for infants.

BREATHING: BREATHE FOR THE INFANT

• Cover the baby’s mouth and nose with your mouth.
• Prepare to give two rescue breaths.
• Use the strength of your cheeks to deliver gentle puffs of air (instead of deep breaths from your lungs).
• Slowly breathe into the baby’s mouth one time, taking one second for the breath.
• Watch to see if the baby’s chest rises.
• If it does, give a second rescue breath.
• If the chest does not rise, repeat the head tilt, chin lift maneuver and then give a second breath.
• If the baby’s chest still doesn’t rise, examine the mouth to make sure no foreign materials are inside.
• If the object is seen, sweep it out with your finger.
• If the airway seems blocked; perform first aid for a choking baby.
• Begin chest compressions to restore blood circulation.

CIRCULATION: RESTORE BLOOD CIRCULATION

• Imagine a horizontal line drawn between the baby’s nipples.
• Place two fingers of one hand just below this line, in the center of the chest.
• Gently compress the chest to about one third to one half the depth of chest.
• Count aloud as you pump in a fairly rapid rhythm.
• You should pump at a rate of 100 compressions a minute.
• Give two breaths after every 30 chest compressions.
• Perform CPR for about two minutes before calling for help unless someone can make the call while you attend to the baby.

Continue CPR until you see signs of life, or until medical personnel arrive.

Please click on link below to view the American Heart Association video demonstration on how to perform infant/baby CPR.

http://www.youtube.com/watch…