How You Can Save A Life by Performing CPR

Cardiac arrest is the sudden loss of heart function that results in losing consciousness and not breathing. According to the American Heart Association, more than 436,000 cardiac arrest deaths occur each year in the U.S.

Being able to recognize whether a person is experiencing cardiac arrest is crucial in determining if they need cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). If performed quickly and effectively, CPR could be the difference between life and death. Immediate CPR triples the chances of someone surviving cardiac arrest, helping buy time until first responders arrive at the scene to help.

What is the Difference Between a Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest?

Before you begin to perform CPR, it is important to know the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest. Although a heart attack can lead to cardiac arrest, the two are quite different – CPR should only be used on someone experiencing a cardiac arrest.

• A Heart Attack is caused by a blockage that stops blood flow to the heart. A heart attack refers to the death of heart muscle tissue due to the loss of blood supply and is solely a circulation problem. A heart attack is quite serious and sometimes fatal. Symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain, shortness of breath, and pain in other parts of the body, such as the left arm and neck. 
• Cardiac Arrest is when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions, causing the heart to stop beating properly or stop altogether. You will be able to tell if someone is experiencing cardiac arrest if they are not breathing or unresponsive even when you shake or shout at them.

Who is At Risk for Cardiac Arrest?

There are several factors that increase someone’s risk of cardiac arrest and being aware of them is important for preventative measures. Some of the risks associated with cardiac arrest are:

• Coronary Heart Disease: This is often caused by cholesterol, a waxy substance that builds up inside the lining of the coronary arteries and forms plaque. This buildup can partially or fully block blood flow in the large arteries of the heart.
• Arrhythmias: An irregular heartbeat, which can be too fast or too slow.
• Complications of Coronary Heart Disease: These include heart attack, coronary dissection, and coronary artery spasm.
• Problems with the Heart Structure: Structural problems, such as cardiomyopathy and heart valve disease, raise the risk of cardiac arrest.
• Heart Failure: Heart failure is a condition that occurs when your heart doesn’t pump enough blood for your body’s needs. 

At What Age Does Your Risk for Cardiac Arrest Rise?

Your risk for cardiac arrest increases with age. While it is rare for people under 30 to go into cardiac arrest, it is possible; even children can experience cardiac arrest. Each year, cardiac arrest is the cause of death for over 2,000 children and adolescents in the U.S.

Causes of sudden cardiac arrest in children can be:

• Athletic Activity: Pre-existing cardiac condition or an undiagnosed congenital heart defect increases the risk of cardiac arrest during athletic activities. Two-thirds of the deaths caused by cardiac arrest in children occur during athletic activity, so sports physical screening is important. 
• Improper Heart Structure: Children with congenital heart disease or structural heart abnormalities are at a higher risk for cardiac arrest. 
• Abnormal Heartbeat: Abnormal heart rhythms associated with congenital heart disease increase a child’s chance of cardiac arrest. The most common abnormal heartbeat conditions include ventricular arrhythmias or atrial arrhythmias.

Being aware of the risks and causes of cardiac arrest can help parents, family members, or friends determine if their loved one is experiencing cardiac arrest. It is critical to learn to perform CPR if the occasion ever arrives; knowing CPR can help save the life of a loved one or someone you see in public.

How Do I Perform CPR?

When performing CPR, there are two different approaches: traditional CPR with mouth-to-mouth and hands-only. Using hands-only CPR has been proven to be more effective and safer than mouth-to-mouth. To learn this hands-only approach, MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center hosted a Sidewalk CPR event to teach the local community how to recognize the difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest, and to properly perform hands-only CPR to keep someone alive while emergency services are on the way.

The MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute is committed to raising awareness about critical heart conditions, such as ventricular arrhythmias and atrial arrhythmias, which significantly increase the risk of cardiac arrest, especially among children. Beyond treating patients, the heart team actively educates the community on recognizing these conditions and the importance of life-saving measures like hands-only CPR.

Is Hands-Only CPR Performed the Same Way on Adults and Children?

It is important to note that although there are many similarities between the way hands-only CPR is performed on adults and children, there are key differences between the two to ensure children don’t receive a serious injury.

How to Perform Hands-Only CPR on an Adult:

• Call 911: Once you’ve identified that someone is experiencing cardiac arrest, the first step you need to take is to call 911. It is important to immediately call 911 so is help is on the way while you perform CPR. If possible, have someone else call 911 for you while you are doing compressions. However, if no one is around, lay the person on their back on a firm surface and keep the 911 operator on the line while you perform compressions.
• Correct Hand Placement: To place your hands correctly, place the heel of one hand on the person’s chest while the other hand rests on top with your fingers interlaced. Keep your arms straight as you push with fast, compact pressure. 
• Consistent Rate of Compressions: Compressions should be performed at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Singing the song “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees can help you maintain the right pace when giving CPR. Interruptions to compressions should be minimized, as continuous compressions increase the likelihood of maintaining vital organ function.

How to Perform Hands-Only CPR on Children:

Performing CPR on younger children looks different compared to adults because they are more fragile – regular compressions can be too harsh on a small child’s chest. Here are the ways to perform hands-only CPR on children depending on their age:

• For an Older Child: Perform regular compressions as you would on an adult. 
• For a Small Child: Use one hand in the center of the child’s chest and push down about 2 inches hard and fast at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute.
• For a Baby: Place both thumbs (side-by-side) on the center of the baby’s chest, just below the nipple line and use the other fingers to encircle the baby’s chest toward the back, providing support. Using both thumbs at the same time, push fast and hard down about 1 ½ inches at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute and allow the chest to return to its normal position after each compression.

Do I need to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) when Performing CPR?

It is important to note the role of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in connection with CPR. AEDs are user-friendly devices that can analyze a heart’s rhythm and deliver an electric shock to help resuscitate the heart if necessary. Most public areas have one of these to use, so it is important to understand how these devices work and when to use them.

To use an AED:

• First, turn on the device and follow the audible instructions.
• Attach the device by exposing the patient’s chest and putting the adhesive electrode pads as directed.
• Ensure no one is touching the patient and allow the AED to analyze the person’s heart rhythm.
• If a shock is advised, the AED will tell you to press the shock button. 
• After delivering the shock, continue doing CPR until medics arrive. 

Learning to perform CPR could be the difference in saving someone’s life. If necessary, using an AED can also significantly increase the survival rate of someone experiencing cardiac arrest since it can restore the heart rhythm before medics arrive. In learning these simple steps, you can help keep someone alive until emergency services arrive.

The MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center partners with LA County’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency to provide informational free events to teach someone to perform CPR. In addition to CPR classes, the Long Beach Medical Center also offers heart health seminars and a free heart health risk assessment.