No aspect of science is ever static: researchers are constantly adjusting and refining protocols for even basic procedures to better reflect the newest evidence. For example, the Covid-19 pandemic helped to develop new guidance for when ventilation is appropriate, as well as underscored the severity of hospital-acquired infections when working with vulnerable patients. Other advances to basic procedures within recent years include a new appreciation for the value of telemedicine and expanded guidelines for when this may be a good solution, such as for psychiatry appointments and routine medication management.
One familiar area of medicine which has received an update in recent years is cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but there has been little discussion of the shift in emphasis away from rescue breaths and toward compressions for the average person, who may not even be aware of the change. Even those in the medical profession might not have received their recertification yet and are still performing CPR the old way, without fully understanding why the focus is now weighted toward compressions. Today, we'll delve more into the updated guidelines for CPR, then discuss how online CPR renewal is an excellent option for those who want to ensure that they are up to date on the best first aid practices.
While the brain can direct breathing, it can't force the heart to pump
One of the main reasons that experts now recommend focusing more on compressions than rescue breaths is because circulation is entirely under the heart's control, without any input from the brain. Breathing is unique because it is under both conscious and unconscious control: this is why you can force yourself to take a deep breath but also breathe without thinking about it. This means that if a person's heart stops, they can still try to breathe, but there will be no way for that oxygen to actually circulate around the body.
It makes sense, then, that if the heart stops, you need to do everything possible to keep that oxygen moving, because the heart is the only organ that can perform this essential task. Only after the heart has started again can you focus on other matters, such as opening a person's airway.
One other consideration is the fact that many people were hesitant to perform CPR due to fears of Covid-19; now that they don't have to worry about putting their mouth on a stranger's, they may be more willing to intervene when they see someone collapse.
There are other changes to CPR protocol too
With the American Heart Association now shifting the focus to chest compressions, this also has changed other things, such as the compression rate: instead of doing 30 compressions and two rescue breaths, you should push hard and fast 100-120 times per minute. Just as before, you should keep a steady rhythm to a song like "Stayin' Alive" by the BeeGees, but keep going instead of pausing to breathe into the victim's mouth.
Another change is the stronger emphasis on using an automated external defibrillator as soon as possible. Now that AEDs are more ubiquitous, available in nearly every publicly accessible building, your CPR training will teach you to use these quickly and effectively instead of relying on them as a last resort.
Online recertification is a great option for those who already understand CPR
While online CPR training is an excellent choice for everyone, it is especially great for those who simply need to brush up their skills rather than learn everything for the first time. This is because you already understand the basic procedures and have likely practiced them before, so you simply need to be reminded of how everything works and learn any updates to the technique that have been put in place since you originally learned.
One reason that many individuals hesitate to practice CPR in an emergency situation is lack of confidence rather than lack of knowledge: according to Harvard Medical School, over 65% of Americans know CPR, but only 18% have stayed up to date with the latest updates to the protocol. This means that many people know what to do, but they may be afraid to hurt the person by doing it wrong.
If you already understand how to do CPR but worry that you might do it ineffectively, getting a refresh will boost your confidence and make you more likely to intervene during an emergency. Breaking the bystander effect and actually taking charge is one of the most difficult parts of doing any first aid, especially if you're not a medical professional: feeling sure that you know what you're doing can be the deciding factor in whether you save a life or stand helplessly by.
Online first aid classes are affordable and readily available, allowing you to learn on your own time and whenever suits your schedule. They cost between $40 and $60 for a certification that lasts two years: that means you're only spending up to $30 a year for life-saving training, less than a single month of cable TV. A few hours of online lessons can change the whole course of your life; you can become the hero that your community needs, the one who is willing to jump into action when someone needs saving.
