According to an extensive study done recently, most of us suffer from a severe ailment called AFib. Among other issues, it can lead to heart failure and death.
Of all the different ways to save lives, we probably take the one most likely to do that the least seriously. We’re talking about CPR.
Even for people who have a basic knowledge of the matter, there’s still a lot of room for mistakes. So, if you’d like to know CPR mistakes beginners make, read what we have to say.
1. Not Knowing Your BLS Guidelines
Common CPR mistakes beginners make include failing to take the necessary steps to ensure their own safety before starting CPR. Always make sure that the scene is safe and follow the BLS guidelines before commencing CPR.
The best way to avoid making these mistakes is by taking and passing a Basic Life Support (BLS) course. BLS is a certification to ensure that CPR and other life-saving techniques are performed correctly and safely. Visit https://cprcertificationnow.com today to get certified with CPR.
2. Overdoing Chest Compressions
Overdoing chest compressions can result in serious complications for the patient such as broken ribs, a collapsed lung, or internal bleeding. It is essential to follow the proper guidance on CPR compression rate, depth, and frequency to avoid overdoing it.
Resistance should be felt when doing chest compressions and multiple hands should be used on an adult patient to ensure the proper depth is achieved. Releasing the pressure after every chest compression is just as important as applying pressure in CPR.
3. Delaying Breath Administration
It is important to begin chest compressions immediately and pause only to deliver breaths if there are two rescuers available. Beginners may get fixated on the idea that they must take time in between breaths to give chest compressions, risking the patient going into cardiac arrest
To avoid making this mistake, try to remember the 30:2 ratio (30 compressions to 2 breaths). If you can’t remember this, a good general rule of thumb is to only pause for breath administration after each round of 30 chest compressions. This helps to ensure that the patient receives vital oxygen soon enough to prevent cardiac arrest.
4. Not Checking Key Vital Signs
Key vital signs include respiration, circulation, and airway. Before beginning CPR, a responder should always ensure the patient is not breathing before beginning chest compressions. Not doing so can be dangerous for both the patient and the responder.
The responder should check the patient’s circulatory system for a pulse, as starting compressions without one can cause further harm to the patient. The responder should open the patient’s airway by tilting the head back to ensure oxygen is flowing.
5. Underestimating the Importance of Practice
Beginners may forget to seek medical help for a patient, not check for responsiveness, or perform compressions at the wrong rate or depth. In order to prevent mistakes, it is essential to practice.
Practice with an instructor will help you become more familiar with the proper techniques and recognize the most common mistakes. Practice with an AED can help ensure you are comfortable with the machine’s functions. Underestimating the importance of practice can lead to critical errors in an emergency.
Avoid CPR Mistakes Beginners Make Today
Knowledge and practice of proper CPR can save someone’s life. If you feel overwhelmed, take a CPR class to gain certification. Take a step in the right direction today to save someone’s life and avoid these CPR mistakes beginners make.
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