by More than 436,000 people die of cardiac arrest in the US every year.
If someone near you has one and you know how to help them, you could save their life. But to know how to help them, you need to learn CPR.
Even the best learning tools can be complicated, so if you feel a bit lost on how to learn CPR and not make mistakes, read on. Here are the most common errors in giving CPR and how to avoid them.
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Not Enough Pressure
Applying too much pressure can put the person performing CPR at risk of damaging the patient’s ribs, while not providing enough pressure can reduce the amount of blood flow to the patient’s vital organs. To ensure enough pressure is being placed while performing CPR, a person should lean their body weight forward and use both their hands (one on top of the other) to compress the chest at least two inches down. Visit Cprcertificationnow.com, to know more about applying pressure in CPR.
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Finger Bending
Finger bending refers to when someone administering CPR applies too much pressure on the patient’s chest. Which causes their fingers to bend backward. This is one of the most common CPR hand placement mistakes.
This can happen from the overzealous or inexperienced application of chest compressions known as “over-tamping”. The best way to avoid this mistake is to ensure that the patient’s chest is pulled up fully during chest compressions and to keep the pressure on the sternum when pushing down.
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Crisscrossing Hands
Another common mistake when giving CPR is crisscrossing hands to perform chest compressions. This CPR hand placement mistake can significantly reduce compression depth and may decrease the heart’s chances of having enough blood flow to keep it beating.
To avoid this mistake, make sure to always keep your hands in line with each other. This will ensure that the chest is being compressed completely.
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Failing to Deliver the Correct CPR Compression Rate
One of the most common errors in giving CPR is failing to deliver the correct compression rate. To perform effective CPR, one must follow the American Heart Association CPR Guidelines.
Which specifies that chest compressions should be delivered at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute. If the incorrect rate is used, it can before hindering the effectiveness of the technique or even lead to the death of the person in cardiac arrest.
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Overinflating the Lungs
This can occur when too much air is provided during the breathing part of the CPR. Overinflating can lead to airway obstruction and serious injury. To avoid this it is important to watch for chest rise and to ensure the rescue breaths are enough to create chest rise, but are not excessive.
The quality of each breath should be checked, and if the air is coming out too quickly it is best to decrease the speed of the breath. It is also important to ensure the head and neck of the victim are in the proper position.
Avoid These Errors in Giving CPR
To conclude, make sure to always be up to date with CPR resuscitation procedures, and remember the key mistakes to avoid. Always practice CPR regularly and seek help if ever feeling unsure.Taking CPR training classes from CPR in Ottawa can help you avoid these errors in giving CPR.
Educate yourself and your colleagues on these common errors and how to prevent them. Get certified and make sure you can react in the best way if ever needed.
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