American Heart Association New CPR Guidelines

If you’ve ever taken a class on how to do CPR, you will probably remember the A-B-Cs of cardiopulmonary resuscitation; clear the injured person’s airway, assist in breathing by mouth to mouth and chest compressions.

Under new guidelines released by the American Heart Association on Monday, the steps have been rearranged to C-A-B – compressions, airway, breathing. According to the AHA, chest compressions are vital to keep the blood circulating and by starting with the airway and breathing crucial seconds which could save a life were being lost.

The AHA recommends if you come across someone who is unresponsive and not breathing, or has occasional breaths which sound like gasping, first call 911 and then start chest compressions with one hand on top of the other, fingers interlaced. The new guidelines also stress that the compressions must be hard and fast; they recommend compressions to a 2 inch depth at a rate of 100 times per minute. Also it is important not to lean on the chest between compressions or else the heart will not be able to fill with blood.

After about 30 compressions, AHA recommends opening the victim’s airway by tilting their head back, then pinch the person’s nose and give them two, one-second breaths as you watch for the chest to rise.

Repeat the steps; 30 compressions, two breaths until help arrives.
[via CBS]