According to the American Heart Association, every year, sudden cardiac arrest claims the lives of more than 436,000 Americans, making it one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Globally, cardiac arrest kills more people than colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, influenza, pneumonia, car accidents, HIV, firearms, and house fires combined.
In these life-threatening moments, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can be the difference between life and death. While CPR doesn’t always guarantee survival, it gives victims a fighting chance until emergency care arrives. Many lives have been saved simply because someone nearby knew how to respond.
In this article, we will explore why CPR is so important, its success rate, the factors that influence its success, the potential risks, and why everyone should learn this life-saving skill.
Why Is CPR Important?
CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, helps save a person’s life when their heart stops beating. When a person gets a cardiac arrest, blood and oxygen stop flowing to the brain and other parts of the body. If nothing is done, the person can suffer brain damage or even die within a few minutes.
CPR helps by pushing on the chest to keep blood moving until medical help arrives. This act helps to save vital organs like the brain, increases the chance of survival, and keeps a person alive until medical intervention is available. Doing CPR quickly can double or even triple the chances that someone will survive.
Most heart emergencies happen at home or in public places, and the first person to help is often not a doctor or nurse; it’s someone nearby. That’s why more people need to learn CPR. Whether it’s an adult or a child, knowing CPR means you could help save someone’s life in an emergency.
Also read: Why CPR Training Is Important for Businesses
CPR Success Rate
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) can help save lives, but its success rate depends on several factors. For people who have a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, the chance of survival after bystander CPR is low, around 10% to 12%. However, if the cardiac arrest happens in a hospital, the survival rate with CPR is higher, ranging from 24% to 40%.
What Are the Factors That Influence the Success of CPR?
CPR success depends on several important factors, like how quickly it’s started, how well it’s done, and the cause of the heart stop. Each of these things can make a big difference in whether CPR helps save a life.
Let’s look at the key factors that affect how well CPR works and how they can change the chances of survival.
1. Time to CPR
The quicker CPR is started, the better the chances of survival. Ideally, CPR should begin within the first few minutes after the heart stops. Delaying CPR means the brain and other organs don’t get enough oxygen, which can cause brain damage or even death. Therefore, immediate CPR is important to increase the rate of success.
2. Quality of CPR
The quality of CPR is very important when trying to save someone during a cardiac arrest. Good CPR means pushing hard and fast on the center of the chest to help move blood to the brain and other organs. The right speed is about 100 to 120 pushes (compressions) per minute, and each push should be about 2 inches deep.
Trained emergency workers can administer quality CPR and often use a method where they give 30 chest pushes followed by 2 rescue breaths. This is called the 30:2 ratio. But even without breaths, just doing hands-only CPR can help save a life.
CPR done by medical professionals or trained individuals usually has better results, but CPR done by an untrained bystander still increases the chance of survival.
3. Cause of Cardiac Arrest
The cause of Cardiac Arrest is an important factor that affects how well CPR might work. Cardiac arrest can happen for many reasons, and some causes are more treatable than others.
If the cardiac arrest is caused by something that can be fixed quickly, like a heart rhythm problem, a drug overdose, choking, or a sudden injury, CPR is more likely to help. In these cases, the heart can sometimes be restarted if CPR and treatment are given right away.
However, if cardiac arrest happens because of a serious health condition, like advanced cancer, severe infection, or major organ failure, CPR may not be as effective. People with long-term or serious illnesses usually have lower chances of surviving, even with CPR.
4. Use of Automated External Defibrillator(AED)
An Automated External Defibrillator(AED) gives a shock to a person when the person’s heart stops. This shock can help restart the heart. The faster a person gets this shock, the better their chance of surviving. If there’s a delay, the chances of survival go down. That’s why it’s important to start CPR right away and use an AED as soon as possible to increase the success of CPR survival.
5. Age
Generally, older adults have a lower chance of surviving after CPR compared to younger people. This is because as we get older, our bodies become weaker, and we may have other health problems like heart disease or diabetes, which can make recovery harder.
How to Improve CPR Success Rates?
To improve CPR success rates, here are some simple steps:
- Learn CPR to be able to help when someone needs it.
- Start CPR right away if someone stops breathing or collapses.
- Use an AED if available to help restart the heart.
- Call emergency services for professional help as soon as possible.
- After CPR, make sure the person gets proper care at the hospital.
What Are the Complications of CPR?
CPR can save lives, but it also has some risks and complications. Here are a few:
- Broken Ribs – CPR often causes broken ribs, especially in older adults or people with smaller frames.
- Sternum Injury – The breastbone can break or get damaged during chest compressions.
- Internal Bleeding – Pressure from chest compressions can cause bleeding inside the body.
- Pneumonia – If stomach contents or vomit enter the lungs during CPR, it can lead to lung infections.
- Collapsed Lung – The force from chest compressions can cause a lung to collapse.
Why CPR Matters Even with Lower Success Rates?
CPR matters even with its lower success rates because it can significantly increase the chances of survival, especially when performed immediately after a cardiac arrest. It helps maintain blood flow to vital organs like the brain and heart until professional help arrives.
The quicker CPR is started, the better the chances of a positive outcome. In many cases, it can prevent permanent brain damage or organ failure, giving the person a better chance of recovery. Even though survival rates may be low, the difference CPR makes is life-saving, and every attempt to revive someone matters.
CPR is also a critical step in the chain of survival that helps ensure a person gets the medical care they need as soon as possible.
Conclusion
CPR can make the difference between life and death when someone’s heart suddenly stops. Whether you’re at home, work, or out in public, knowing what to do in those first few moments is critical. Even though CPR doesn’t always guarantee survival, starting it right away can help keep oxygen flowing to the brain and vital organs until emergency help arrives. That’s why it’s so important for everyone, not just healthcare workers, to learn CPR.
If you want to feel confident and prepared in an emergency, now is the time to get trained. Heart Start CPR is an American Heart Association (AHA) authorized training center that offers high-quality courses like BLS, ACLS, PALS, and First Aid. Our experienced instructors teach you using real-life scenarios and hands-on practice so you’re ready when it matters most.
Join our BLS class today and be ready to save a life. We offer training in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Oakland, San Ramon, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, Dublin, San Mateo, Walnut Creek, and even Reno, Nevada.
Take the first step toward saving a life, enroll in a Heart Start CPR class today.
FAQs
1. How do I know if someone is having a cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest happens suddenly when the heart stops beating. You can tell if someone is having a cardiac arrest if they suddenly collapse and become unresponsive. They won’t be able to respond to you or move. Another sign is that they stop breathing or their breathing may be very irregular, like gasping. If you notice these signs, it’s important to act fast. Start CPR right away and call for emergency help. The quicker you respond, the better the chances of saving the person’s life.
3. What should I do if I’m not trained in CPR?
If you’re not trained in CPR, don’t panic. The first thing to do is call 911 for help. While waiting for emergency services, you can still help by doing hands-only CPR. This means giving chest compressions without needing to do mouth-to-mouth.
Place your hands in the center of the chest and push hard and fast, about 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Keep going until help arrives or the person starts breathing again. Even without training, your quick actions can save a life!
4. Should I perform CPR if I’m alone?
Yes, you should perform CPR even if you’re alone. If someone collapses and isn’t breathing, call 911 right away and start CPR. If you don’t know how to do CPR, just do chest compressions. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest to help keep blood flowing to the brain and heart. Even if you’re alone, starting CPR can make a big difference until help arrives.
5. Can CPR be performed on someone pregnant?
Yes, CPR can be performed on a pregnant woman if her heart stops or if she stops breathing. The steps are mostly the same, but you should place your hands a little higher on her chest to avoid pressing on her belly. If she is in her third trimester, tilting her slightly to the left can help with blood flow. It’s important to call 911 right away and get professional help as soon as possible.
