Dear Hansa,
The air we breathe in travels to our lungs where oxygen is picked up by our blood and then pumped by the heart to our tissue and organs. When a person experiences cardiac arrest - whether due to heart failure in adults and the elderly or an injury such as near drowning, electrocution or severe trauma in a child - the heart goes from a normal beat to an arrhythmic pattern called ventricular fibrillation, and eventually ceases to beat altogether.
This prevents oxygen from circulating throughout the body, rapidly killing cells and tissue. In essence, Cardio (heart) Pulmonary (lung) Resuscitation (revive, revitalize) serves as an artificial heartbeat and an artificial respirator.
CPR may not save the victim even when performed properly, but if started within 4 minutes of cardiac arrest and defibrillation is provided within 10 minutes, a person has a 40% chance of survival.
Invented in 1960, CPR is a simple but effective procedure that allows almost anyone to sustain life in the first critical minutes of cardiac arrest. CPR provides oxygenated blood to the brain and the heart long enough to keep vital organs alive until emergency equipment arrives.
To make learning CPR easier, a system was devised that makes remembering it as simple as A-B-C:
Airway
Breathing
Circulation
WHEN TO DIAL 1-0-8
It is critical to remember that dialing 1-0-8 may be the most important step you can take to save a life.
If someone besides you is present, they should dial 1-0-8 immediately. If you’re alone with the victim, try to call for help prior to starting CPR on an adult and after a minute on a child. Before we learn what to do in an emergency, we must first emphasize what NOT to do:
DO NOT leave the victim alone.
DO NOT try make the victim drink water.
DO NOT throw water on the victim's face.
DO NOT prompt the victim into a sitting position.
DO NOT try to revive the victim by slapping his face.
Provide 1-0-8 operator with:
Location & phone number
Type of emergency
Victim's condition and age
Always remember to exercise solid common sense. When faced with an emergency situation we may act impulsively and place ourselves in harm's way. Although time should not be wasted, only approach the victim after determining that the scene is safe: always check for cars, fire, gas, downed electrical lines, and any other potential hazards before attempting to perform CPR. . .
Thanks & Besafe
Raghu