Cpr Survival Rates

Over 250,000 people die each year in the United States of cardiac arrest. It is the leading cause of death in America, killing more people than breast cancer, prostate cancer, vehicle accidents, motor and gunshot wounds combined. Yet many people still ignore the symptoms of a cardiac arrest and how CPR can help increase the chances of victim survival.

What is cardiac arrest?

First, cardiac arrest is not a stroke. A heart attack is more a question of "plumbing" when a blockage prevents blood pumped by the heart well. Cardiac arrest is a problem "electric" when the body's electrical signals used to control the rate of pumping of the heart become irregular and chaotic. This essentially closes the heart and blood can not be pumped to the rest of the body.

As scary as it sounds, cardiac arrest occurs rarely as a random event. Most victims suffer a certain degree of heart disease or other problems - even if they appear perfectly healthy on the outside.

What are the symptoms?

When the heart stops functioning, the symptoms are frightening and immediate. A victim of cardiac arrest will land subsidence and respiratory arrest. They lose consciousness and have no pulse. They do not respond to gentle shaking or tapping.

For true sudden cardiac arrest, there are usually no symptoms really leading in this disaster. However, cardiac arrest is often associated with a heart attack. Many times the heart attack will bring on cardiac arrest and that is why the heart stops beating. So know the signs of a heart attack may also be important. These include shortness of breath, chest tightness, pain in the upper limbs and dizziness.

What are appropriate responses?

reactions of spectators face to face with the situation of life and death of cardiac arrest are vital to the survival of a victim. There are certain things, such as CPR, an observer can increase the chances of a victim of cardiac arrest survivor of the attack.

The first thing is to have someone immediately call 911. The fastest qualified medical personnel can handle, the better! Second, start CPR while someone checks if an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available. An AED is a portable electronic device used to shock the heart rhythm on track. Continue with CPR and AED until the paramedics arrived on the scene.

Survival Rate

Brain death occurs 4-6 minutes after sudden cardiac arrest, without the implementation of CPR. Therefore, even if an AED is not available, provide simple CPR until the paramedics arrive can have a huge impact on the outcome. By continuing to pump blood manually into the body of the brain and other organs are kept alive.

The American Heart Association states that when CPR and defibrillation is administered within eight minutes of cardiac arrest victim's chances of survival increases by 20%. When these steps are planned in four minutes and the paramedics arrived within eight minutes, the probability of survival increases to over 40%.

It is regrettable, but everyone is properly trained in CPR and first aid, survival in cardiac arrest is really the right place at the right time. Since most cardiac arrests occur at home Statistically, more trained in CPR could just mean that you will one day save the life of a good friend or family member!