Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency medical service provided during cardiac arrest until professional medical help arrives. Despite being an essential skill, many misconceptions and myths about CPR exist.
Various myths prevent people from taking action, leading to potential casualties. To increase the survival rate of victims and educate people on fact-based knowledge of CPR, we have listed some myths and misconceptions about CPR to counter them with facts.
Let’s explore some common myths and misconceptions about CPR and debunk them with facts to clarify things. This will compel people to take action immediately in emergencies.
8 Most Common CPR Myths and Misconceptions
Myth 1: You Should Perform Mouth-To-Mouth Resuscitation First
There is a massive misconception about CPR on providing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as a compulsion. However, as per the recent guidelines of the American Heart Association (AHA), chest compression CPR is considered more effective than mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Providing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while engaging in chest compression could affect the flow of CPR. This would decrease the effectiveness of chest compression. During the time of cardiac arrest, every second of your time is a very crucial part for the victim. It can determine the life and death of the victim. So, it disapproves of the myth of providing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as a priority.
However, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation can be appropriate in a condition where a victim is rescued from drowning. You can also perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when you possess proper training and are comfortable providing it. If the patient is not bleeding or vomiting from the mouth, you can give it with still continuing chest compressions.
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Myth 2: CPR Always Brings People Back to Life
CPR can be a handy skill in the emergency of cardiac arrest. It can restart the heart during cardiac arrest, but it is not enough to restart the heart that is not contracting anymore. Chest compression during cardiac arrest would ensure oxygenated blood circulates throughout the vital organs.CPR alone is unlikely to restart the heart. Additionally, with the help of tools like defibrillation and medication, we can more effectively restore the heart rhythm of victims.
The possibility and effectiveness of CPR are not always the same. The misconception that CPR always brings people back to life can be a little uncertain. When CPR is administered within the first 3 to 5 minutes of a collapse, around half of the victims will survive. Each minute beyond that decreases the survival rate.
Myth 3: CPR Can Be Learned by Watching Video Online
Various platforms are providing full online certification for learning CPR, which would save you time and money. However, they require hands-on training to make skills like CPR or BLS more effective. You must know where to place your hand and how much pressure to apply during the chest compression. Practicing it on a mannequin would provide you with a live experience, and you would also get recommendations from instructors in case of improper hand placement.
Watching videos online related to CPR can teach you the facts, but learning the skills to apply them in an emergency requires hands-on training. Learning CPR is meaningless until you can fully perform it on a person during an emergency.
Myth 4: CPR is Unnecessary If the Person Is Gasping
Gasping is often seen in cardiac arrest victims and can be mistaken for normal breathing. When a person is gasping, breathing is ineffective and does not provide adequate oxygen to the body. Just like the myth that CPR is unnecessary for the person gasping. Believing it can delay crucial life-saving measures.
Recognizing abnormal breathing as a sign of cardiac arrest and starting CPR immediately is essential. CPR helps maintain blood flow and oxygen levels to vital organs, significantly improving the victim’s chances of survival. Identifying and detecting if the person is gasping would let you take quick action, ultimately saving more lives.
Myth 5: CPR is Only for Medical Professionals
Basic knowledge of CPR is easily available on the Internet. You do not require a medical degree to learn CPR skills. Learning CPR will increase the chances of survival for a cardiac arrest victim. Many people have a misconception that CPR is a skill that is required only by medical professionals. However, CPR is an essential and life-saving skill that should not be limited to medical professionals.
Having proper CPR training could save some lives during medical emergencies like cardiac arrest, drowning, and heart attacks. You never know when this scenario could take place. So, having proper training and preparing yourself to face this situation would avoid possible fatalities.
Myth 6: A Person in Cardiac Arrest Will Have No Pulse
While it’s true that a person in cardiac arrest typically has no detectable pulse. In rare situations, an individual in cardiac arrest might have irregular heartbeats. These heartbeats are known as abnormal pulses. They are insufficient to sustain life and often go undetected. Therefore, the absence of a detectable pulse should not delay the initiation of CPR.
Immediate CPR and defibrillation are crucial in all cases of suspected cardiac arrest, as they significantly increase the chances of survival. Even if a faint pulse is present, the heart’s function is inadequate, and immediate action can mean the difference between life and death.
Read in Detail: When drowning is the suspected cause of cardiac arrest, what should the responder do first?
Myth 7: CPR Is Only Necessary for Heart Attacks
When a person is unresponsive due to various reasons like drowning, choking, cardiac arrest, and severe allergic reactions, it is a must to provide CPR. Drowning victims are unresponsive and not breathing. CPR is provided to restore oxygen in the blood and prevent brain damage.
Choking leads to unconsciousness and interruption of breathing. CPR for drowning can help blood flow to the brain and other organs until the airway is cleared and normal breathing is restored. Severe injuries from accidents or violence can also lead to cardiac arrest. Providing CPR immediately can help sustain life until professional medical help arrives and takes over.
So, CPR is not only limited to victims of heart attacks but is necessary for any situation where the heart stops, or the person is not breathing.
Myth 8: CPR Is Only Effective for Adults
CPR is effective for people of all age groups. Certain techniques are used to apply CPR based on the age and size of the body. However, the basic principles for applying CPR to victims of all ages remain the same. The hand placement in Hands-Only CPR and the amount of pressure differ slightly depending on the victim’s age. These techniques are adapted to suit the anatomical and physiological differences between age groups.
The causes of cardiac arrest differ across age groups. In adults, it is often due to heart disease, while in children and infants, it can result from respiratory issues, drowning, or choking. Despite all these differences, immediate CPR can be life-saving for all age groups, and not only adults. Bystander CPR can double or even triple a person’s chances of survival.
Myth 9: Electric Shock Is the First Choice for Cardiac Arrest
When a person suffers cardiac arrest. The most important immediate action is to start CPR right away. Starting CPR helps to maintain blood flow to the heart and brain until professional help arrives. Early CPR is very important to improve the chances of survival and favorable outcomes.
An electric shock delivered through an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is crucial in certain types of cardiac arrest. When used correctly, an AED provides clear instructions and can significantly increase the chances of survival. However, the presence of an AED does not replace the need for CPR. Effective chest compressions keep blood circulating and buy precious time until the AED can be applied.
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Conclusion
In this blog post, we have tried to contradict the various myths and misconceptions about CPR and how facts differ from fiction. Despite its importance, many misconceptions about CPR prevent people from taking action, potentially leading to preventable fatalities. Therefore, educating people on the realities of CPR is essential to increase survival rates. By addressing and correcting myths, the general public is more likely to adopt CPR as a necessary and valuable skill.
It also ensures that more individuals have the knowledge and confidence to save lives effectively. By understanding the truth about CPR, you can be empowered to take immediate and decisive action in critical moments, potentially saving lives and making a significant difference in your community. So, take your time to CPR Training at Heart Start CPR, spread awareness, and be ready to act when it matters most.
