Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, more commonly known as CPR, is an important skill to have. In the event of a heart attack, CPR can increase a person’s chance of survival by upwards of forty-five percent. CPR is the act of manually pumping the heart to pump blood through the body in the event that the heart stops functioning properly while blowing air into the lungs to provide oxygen to the blood. There are a few key steps to performing proper CPR.
The first step is calling out to the person to make sure they are all right and surveying your surroundings. Not every person will need CPR and depending on the situation it may not be safe to approach. If they are near downed power lines or other hazards like a fire, don’t be a hero. Call the proper emergency services right away. If it is safe to proceed, it’s important to understand who does and does not need CPR. If the person is unresponsive, check for proper breathing and check the coloration of their face. If it has a blue tinge to it, they aren’t getting enough oxygen and CPR is required. If they are breathing normally, or their face has a pinkish healthy hue, they may just be unconscious, and CPR might not be required. The biggest danger in not being properly trained in CPR is that you aren’t trained in how to tell when it’s needed. Many people not trained in CPR will attempt to help by using what they’ve seen on TV or other media when it is completely unnecessary, which can end up doing more harm than good.
If you are looking to take cardiopulmonary resuscitation classes in Portland, OR, reach out to emergency services and response training companies for more information on how to register for classes.
