Why Should I Learn CPR?

With Restart A Heart day just around the corner, find out why you should learn how to perform CPR. Restart A Heart Day occurs every year on 16th October. The purpose of this day is to to raise awareness about Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and to teach people the life-saving skill of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

What is CPR? 

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a simple skill that everyone, even children should acquire. You never know when you might need to use it to save the life of a relative, friend, colleague or stranger. CPR helps to pump blood around the person's body when their heart can't.

CPR is a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths. By performing chest compressions and rescue breaths, you take over the role of the person's heart and lungs, pumping blood and oxygen around their body. The guidance on CPR was updated due to the COVID-19 outbreak. It is advised to now perform hands only CPR. Performing chest compressions only (hands only) still benefits the casualty during the time it takes the emergency services to arrive. Doing something is always better than doing nothing.

Reasons to Learn CPR

• CPR is easy to learn

CPR is carried out in just a few simple steps. By learning these steps, you'll feel more confident to step in and help in an emergency.

• You could save a life

The average ambulance response time in urban areas is 11 minutes. Delivering CPR in an emergency during this time ensures the casualty has the best chance of survival.

• CPR and a shock from a defibrillator is the only definitive treatment for SCA

Sudden Cardiac Arrest happens to anyone, at any time or place. According to the Resuscitation Council, there are approximately 200 SCA cases in the UK every day. Just 1 in 10 people survive a cardiac arrest. This is often due to a lack of quick and effective treatment. When CPR and defibrillation is delivered within 3-5 minutes of the cardiac arrest taking place, the chance of survival is increased from 6%-74%. Knowing CPR gives you the ability to make a life-saving difference in an emergency situation.

Importance of CPR

For every minute that goes by without treatment following a cardiac arrest, a person in SCA loses 10% of their chance of survival. Without immediate treatment, 90-95% of cardiac arrests are fatal.

Just 46% of Sudden Cardiac Arrest casualty’s receive CPR from a bystander. Just 22% of people in the UK would feel confident enough to provide CPR on a stranger.

The reasons bystanders have given for not providing CPR include;

• Skills not being up to date (28%)
• CPR is too complicated (24%)
• A lack of confidence (18%)

How to perform CPR 

Ensure you are in a safe space and that the emergency services have been called.

To carry out chest compressions, follow these simple steps:

1.  Place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of the person's chest. Place your other hand on top of your first hand and interlock your fingers.
2. Position yourself with you shoulders above your hands.
3. Using your body weight, press straight down by 5-6cm or 2-2.5inches on their chest.
4. Repeat these compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 times a minute until an ambulance arrives. 

When practicing your compression technique, you may want to look for songs with the ideal beats per minute. This includes the popular 'Stayin' Alive' by The Bee Gees.

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FAQs

What is CPR and why is it important?

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving technique used during emergencies where someone's breathing or heartbeat has stopped. CPR involves chest compressions (and previously included rescue breaths, now often just hands-only due to COVID-19 precautions) to manually take over the pumping function of the heart to maintain blood flow around the body until emergency services arrive. Learning CPR is critical because it can significantly increase the survival rate of someone suffering from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

How does CPR impact the survival chances of someone experiencing a cardiac arrest?

Immediate application of CPR in the event of a cardiac arrest can increase the person’s chance of survival from 6% to 74% if performed within the first 3-5 minutes. Each minute without CPR reduces survival chances by 10%, making quick action essential.

Why don’t more people perform CPR in emergencies?

Despite the effectiveness of CPR, only 46% of cardiac arrest victims receive it from bystanders. Common reasons for hesitation include out-of-date skills (28%), perceiving CPR as too complicated (24%), and a lack of confidence (18%). These barriers highlight the importance of regular CPR training and public awareness efforts to boost bystander intervention rates.

How can I learn to perform CPR correctly?

You can learn CPR by taking a certified course through various health organisations or local community centres. During CPR training, you will learn how to safely perform chest compressions at the correct depth and rate (100 to 120 compressions per minute), which can be rhythmically guided by songs like 'Stayin' Alive' by The Bee Gees. Ensuring you are trained by professionals helps build confidence and competence in performing CPR during actual emergencies.