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Now, that's CPR: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. You've probably also seen, because of adverts on television, that we can do continual chest compressions. Now, if you don't want to put your mouth down on theirs and do breaths, you don't have to. It may be they've got damage or blood around their face or vomit or you just don't feel comfortable. If that's the case, then we're just going to do chest compressions. Hand placement's the same, interlocking your fingers. Chest. Hands straight down the centre of the chest, shoulder above, pushing down. We're still pushing down at a depth of five to six centimetres. We're still going at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions a minute, which is roughly two a second. This time we just keep on going. All we're doing with this is just continually compressing down on the chest. You don't need to count out loud because it's just giving the exact speed of compressions. What's happening here is we're pushing down on the breastbone, it's forcing blood out of the heart, blood's being sucked in, so we're circulating oxygen-rich blood in the system. Now, there will be oxygen within the system itself but also, every time you push down on the chest and that small amount of air is going to be passing in and out of the mouth because you push down and you force air out of the lungs as well. When you let go, a little bit more air's going to go back in, so it's not as ideal as normal CPR, but this is a very, very effective way of delivering CPR either from the start, or maybe you do full CPR, hand over to someone else, and they just do continual chest compressions.
Continuous Chest Compressions in CPR
Introduction to Continuous Chest Compressions
Learn about the technique of continuous chest compressions in CPR, which eliminates the need for rescue breaths.
When to Choose Continuous Compressions
Considerations: There are situations where performing mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths may not be suitable, such as when the patient has facial injuries, blood, vomit, or for personal comfort reasons.
Executing Continuous Chest Compressions
Proper Hand Placement: Ensure correct hand placement by interlocking your fingers.
Compression Technique: Press down firmly on the chest, targeting the centre of the chest with your hands.
Compression Depth: Maintain a depth of five to six centimetres (approximately two to two and a half inches).
Compression Rate: Maintain a consistent rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute (around two compressions per second).
Continuous Compressions Process
Uninterrupted Compressions: Continuously apply chest compressions without the need for counting out loud.
Effective Circulation: By compressing the chest, you facilitate the expulsion of blood from the heart and the intake of oxygen-rich blood, improving circulation.
Air Exchange: While compressing the chest, a limited amount of air exchange occurs as you force air out of the lungs during compressions, and air re-enters between compressions.
Continuous chest compressions provide an efficient and effective method for delivering CPR, especially in situations where rescue breaths are not feasible.