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SearchIt's National CPR and AED Awareness Week. A physician highlights the importance of knowing how to do CPR and using an AED in an emergency.
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CLEVELAND - It’s National CPR and AED Awareness Week.
If you don’t know how to do CPR, now is a good time to learn.
According to the Red Cross, immediate CPR can double or triple chances of survival after a cardiac arrest.
“The big thing with having a sudden cardiac arrest is it can come from drowning or just the electrical system of the heart not working,” said Steven Brooks, MD, emergency medicine physician for Cleveland Clinic. “And the faster you can get the blood flowing in the body to the vital organs, the better outcome you’re going to have.”
Dr. Books said CPR should be performed in situations where a person isn’t breathing or doesn’t have a pulse.
Before you get started, make sure to call 9-1-1.
Chest compressions should then be done 100 to 120 times a minute.
Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is no longer recommended.
Dr. Brooks said AEDs can also be helpful in an emergency.
For those unfamiliar, these devices are often available in public places.
They work by analyzing the person’s heart rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock.
“The instructions are right inside. Once you open up the AED, it shows you exactly where to place the pads and hit the button that says analyze,” said Dr. Brooks. “It will direct you to do everything. That is one of the best ways to help revive somebody that has suddencardiac arrest outside of doing just your basic CPR.It's the next step in the chain of survival.”
Dr. Brooks also recommends learning how to do the Heimlich maneuver in the event someone is choking.
If their airway remains blocked for too long, they could ultimately need CPR.
All of these skills are very important to know.
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 81,000 employees worldwide are more than 5,743 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,160 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,690-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 276 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2023, there were 13.7 million outpatient encounters, 323,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 301,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 132 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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