A life saving technique everyone should know

THS

In an emergency, when a loved one’s heart or breathing stops, every second counts—and knowing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) could mean the difference between life and death.
imply put, CPR saves lives,” says Jodi Privette, CPR instructor for Trident Health System. “You never know what is going to happen, and it only takes one person who knows CPR to save a life. This is a skill that everyone, even a child, can learn.”
How It Works
With CPR, it is all about oxygen. Each component of CPR—“rescue breathing” (mouth-to-mouth) or breathing combined with chest compressions—is meant to encourage the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and vital organs. The breathing component provides oxygen to the body, while chest compressions circulate oxygen-rich blood throughout the body.
 Both elements are important, but chest compressions are particularly crucial. Essentially, a person providing CPR is acting in place of the victim’s heart in the hope that chest compressions will jumpstart the heart into pumping again. If you are untrained in CPR and come upon a victim of cardiac arrest, you can still perform chest compressions until medical personnel arrive, but it is preferable to know CPR in order to render the best assistance.
In Case of Emergency
“If an emergency occurs, your job is to sustain life until medical professionals arrive,” says Patricia Hough, RN, clinical educator for Trident Health System. “If the victim is a child, you should begin CPR immediately because children are more likely to respond to CPR alone. With adult victims, you should call 911 before beginning CPR because adults are more likely to require a defibrillator to shock the heart into working again.”
The faster you begin CPR, the better. Even if you did not witness the event and suspect several minutes may have passed, performing CPR is better than taking no action at all.
To learn more about upcoming CPR classes, call Trident HealthFinders at (843) 797-FIND (3463) or 1-888-797-FIND.