CARDIO PULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR)

CPR stands for Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, and it is a life-saving technique used in emergencies when someone’s heartbeat or breathing has stopped. CPR is performed to manually keep oxygenated blood flowing to vital organs, such as the brain and heart, until more advanced medical help can be administered. Here are the basic steps of CPR:

1. Check for Responsiveness: First, make sure the scene is safe for both you and the victim. Then, try to wake the person up by tapping their shoulder and shouting loudly, “Are you okay?”

• Call for Help: If the person does not respond, or if they respond but are not breathing normally, call 999 (emergency number) immediately or instruct someone else to do so. Time is critical in a cardiac arrest situation.

• Check for Breathing:  Scan for chest movement. If the person is not breathing or is breathing abnormally, it’s time to start chest compressions.

• Place the heel of one hand in the center of the person’s chest (usually between the nipples). Place your other hand on top of the first hand and interlock your fingers. Keep your elbows straight and your shoulders directly above your hands. Push hard and fast at a rate of about 100-120 compressions per minute. Allow the chest to fully recoil between compressions. Continue chest compressions until professional medical help arrives or the person starts breathing normally.

• Open the Airway: Gently tilt the person’s head backward and lift the chin to open their airway.

• Give Rescue Breaths (If Trained): If you are trained in CPR and comfortable giving rescue breaths, you can alternate between chest compressions and rescue breaths. Give 2 rescue breaths after every 30 chest compressions.

• Continue CPR: Continue the cycle of chest compressions and rescue breaths until:
• Professional help arrives and takes over.
• The person starts breathing normally.
• You are too exhausted to continue.
• AED is available and ready to use

Remember that proper CPR training is crucial, and it’s important to get certified in CPR by get yourself into BLS Training through a reputable organization like the American Heart Association. In Malaysia there is a lot of training provider that provide Basic Life Support Training and those who join will benefit themselves which gain knowledge about CPR and also equipped themselves with the knowledge so that they can prepare if emergency happen in front of their eyes. CPR can greatly improve the chances of survival for someone experiencing cardiac arrest until more advanced medical care is available.