HCFI appeals to the masses to learn the lifesaving technique of Hands Only CPR 10

New CPR guidelines launched: HCFI appeals to the masses to learn the lifesaving technique of Hands Only CPR 10

Hands only CPR is an effective and easy to learn life-saving technique which can revive sudden cardiac arrest patients within ten minutes of their death

New Delhi, February 19, 2016: Sudden cardiac arrest is the number one killer in India taking an estimated 25 lakh lives annually. According to the data revealed by the Delhi Economical Survey, 150 to 250 deaths happen in the city every single day. Out of these 25 – 45 deaths occur suddenly. With 60% of the people dying before they reach the hospital and the large number of sudden cardiac arrest victims; it is essential that each one of us must know the essential life-saving technique of hands only CPR – 10.

A simple and easy to learn technique, Hands only CPR 10 does not require any mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and can be performed by anyone. The American Heart Association has recently launched a new set of guidelines according to which compression only or hands only CPR is the most effective when administered by bystanders.

Welcoming the AHA guidelines Padma Shri Awardee Dr. KK Aggarwal - President of Heart Care Foundation of India and Honorary Secretary General of IMA said, “Sudden cardiac arrests are being found to be the reason for the death of people as young as in their thirties and forties. In most cases these are triggered by mild heart issues, which go unnoticed. These are mostly linked to stress and unhealthy life choices.  The hands only CPR 10 mantra is extremely simple to remember and can help revive a sudden cardiac arrest patient within the first ten minutes of his or her death. The new guidelines by the American Heart Association are comprehensive and must be followed and learnt by all. Given how prevalent it is in today’s generation, it is essential that each person learns the life-saving technique of hands-only CPR10. “

HCFI Hands Only CPR 10 Mantra: Within 10 minutes of death (earlier the better), for a minimum of 10 minutes (the longer the better), compress the center of the chest of the deceased person continuously and effectively with a speed of 10×10 = 100 per minute. Chest compression should be stopped only when the person starts breathing or the ambulance arrives.

The new guidelines by the Americal Heart Association state

·         Bystanders should initiate compression-only CPR -10.

·         Compression rate should be 100–120 per minute (updated from “at least” 100 per minute).

·         Compression depth should be 2–2.5 inches (upper limit added).

·         Compression time should be maximized.

·         Feedback devices may be used to optimize compression rate and depth.

·         The emergency medical dispatcher plays an important role in the early diagnosis of cardiac arrest, the provision of dispatcher-assisted CPR (also known as telephone CPR), and the location and dispatch of an AED.

·         The bystander who is trained and able should assess the collapsed victim rapidly to determine if the victim is unresponsive and not breathing normally and then immediately alert the emergency services.

·         The victim who is unresponsive and not breathing normally is in cardiac arrest and requires CPR.

·         Bystanders and emergency medical dispatchers should be suspicious of cardiac arrest in any patient presenting with seizures and should carefully assess whether the victim is breathing normally.

·         CPR providers should perform chest compressions for all victims in cardiac arrest.

·         CPR providers trained and able to perform rescue breaths should combine chest compressions and rescue breaths.

·         High-quality CPR remains essential to improving outcomes.

·         CPR providers should ensure chest compressions of adequate depth (at least 5 cm but no more than 6 cm) with a rate of 100–120 compressions min

·         After each compression allow the chest to recoil completely and minimise interruptions in compressions.

·         When providing rescue breaths/ventilations spend approximately 1 s inflating the chest with sufficient volume to ensure the chest rises visibly. The ratio of chest compressions to ventilations remains 30:2.

·         Do not interrupt chest compressions for more than 10 s to provide ventilations.

·         Defibrillation within 3-5 min of collapse can produce survival rates as high as 50-70 %. Early defibrillation can be achieved through CPR providers using public access and on-site AEDs. Public access AED programmes should be actively implemented in public places that have a high density of citizens.

·         The adult CPR sequence can be used safely in children who are unresponsive and not breathing normally. Chest compression depths in children should be at least one third of the depth of the chest (for infants that is 4 cm, for children 5 cm).

To know more or to organize a training camp in your locality, please call the NGO’s helpline number 9958771177.