How to Measure the Effectiveness of CPR
CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure performed on people who are not breathing and have no heartbeat. It is a lifesaving practice that saves millions of people’s lives when applied properly and quickly using chest compressions. Technology has a significant role in the 21st Century for measuring the effectiveness of CPR in an out of hospital setting.
The general-public and bystanders are using health apps to monitor the heart rate and blood pressure of people. American Heart Association (AHA) is a reliable site that teaches individuals how to apply CPR and about the chain of survival.
What is AHA’s Chain-Survival?
American Heart Association uses the term chain-survival as the elements of the ECC systems concept involving six links in an out-of-hospital setting.(1)
1. Recognizing the early signs of cardiac arrest and quickly activating an emergency response system by calling 911.
2. Emphasizing on chest compressions during the early stage of providing CPR.
3. Rapid defibrillation of the heart using electric shock to restore its normal rhythm.
4. Receiving advanced resuscitation from emergency responders
5. Post-cardiac arrest care.
6. Recovery methods, including rehabilitation, observation, treatments, and mental support.
The purpose of chain of survival is to increase the rate of survivals and improve the recovery process. You must know the symptoms if a person is nonresponsive and needs CPR and immediate medical attention. There are various causes of cardiac arrest and many bystanders will not know how to perform CPR properly .
Start CPR
- If the person is not breathing
- Victim is unconscious
- Has no pulse.
Causes of Cardiac and Respiratory Arrest
- Drowning
- Drug Overdose
- Head Trauma
- Electrical Shock
- Poisoning
- Suffocation
- Choking
- Excessive Loss of Blood
- Accidents and Injuries
Chest compression techniques on children, adults, and babies keep the blood circulating. But time is at hand, requiring a quick response of continuous CPR until the person starts breathing again and the heartbeat begins. Perform the procedure until emergency responders arrive on the scene.
Reasons for Quick CPR Procedure
Permanent brain damage begins after only four minutes without oxygen, and death occurs approximately four to six minutes later. Both CPR techniques including the chest compression and mouth-to-mouth, or rescue breathing are successfully in saving the person’s life. The chest compression technique is effective on its own, but if the 911 operator suggests the rescue breathing technique follow his or her instructions.
Steps for a Bystander to Perform CPR
- Position the unconscious person flat on his or her back.
- Lift up the chin using two fingers and tilt the head by pushing the head downward with your other hand to open the airway.
- Place your ear close to the mouth and nose to listen to breathing. Observe the chest for any movement and feel for breath.
- Proceed with the rescue breath technique if the person is still not breathing. Cover the person’s mouth snugly with your mouth and pinch the nose to close. Make sure the chin is in the lift and tilt position and start giving two breaths. It takes approximately a second for the chest to rise for each breath you give. Keep performing the procedure repeatedly until the paramedics arrives.
How to Perform the Chest Compression Technique
Your hands must be positioned with the heel of one hand on the breastbone between the nipples. Next, place the heel of your other hand on top of the hand placed on the breastbone. Position your body over your hands and give 30 hard chest compressions at a rapid pace.
When applying the technique, press down about two inches into the chest and let it rise completely. Repeat the 30-count compression method until the person becomes responsive, and the medical team is on the site.
Technology and Its Role in Measuring the Effectiveness of CPR
Today, technology is playing a significant role in measuring the effectiveness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Researchers used their smartphones to calculate the compression’s frequency and depth, while providing guidance for CPR techniques improvement in real time.
They experimented with an application and measured the blood’s saturation of oxygen. Results revealed over 90 percent accuracy for oxygen saturation, frequency, and penetration.
Depth of Chest Compression
Chest compression depth is different for adults, children, and infants. For a baby, the intensity of the compression is one-third inch using the index and middle fingers. The depth for adults is two to 2.5 inches using both hands and for children one inch to 1.5 inches using one hand.
Important factors to consider when performing CPR:
- Opening the Victim’s Airway
- Give adequate breathes
- Consistent Chest Compressions
The recommended rate of chest compressions is about 100 per minute.(3) If you have advanced CPR training, you can measure the effectiveness of the procedure by pulse. Some people who know the basics of the techniques have little knowledge on how to monitor the pulse rate.
Research proves that smartphone applications provide valuable feedback to the bystanders administering CPR. It successfully prompted when to adjust the compression depth and frequency. Smartphone apps measures the level of blood oxygen saturation accurately.
You can monitor the heartbeat and blood pressure of the victim by pressing his or finger on the smart camera. The options for measuring the effectiveness of CPR are monitoring for signs of breathing and heartbeat and/or the use of a smartphone app.
References:
1 American Heart Association. (n.d.). What is CPR? CPR & First Aid Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Retrieved from https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/what-is-cpr
2 Medline Plus. (n.d.). CPR – adult and child after onset of puberty. US National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000013.htm
3 Gupta, N. J., Dantu, V., Dantu, R. Effective CPR Procedure With Real Time Evaluation and Feedback Using Smartphones. US National Library of Medicine-National Institutes of Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4861545/