Basic CPR Question

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cfman

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Here's a very quick CPR question. I learned to Look, Listen, & Feel, and then feel for pulse.

In the event that the person if no breathing & there is no pulse, you perform CPR.

What if there is no breathing but the pt has a pulse?
Do you never perform CPR if a pulse is present?
 
No breathing, you breathe for them (about 12-16 times a minute) and NO compressions


R/r 911
 
correct me if i am wrong
one rescue breath every 5 seconds

when do you stop and check for pulse every 60 seconds?
 
One breath every five seconds with a pulse re-check every 12 breaths or 60 seconds.
 
Okay, so let me get this straight:

No breathing, no pulse: CPR with breathing & compressions
No breathing, pulse: Only breathing, NO compressions

How likely are you to encounter a situation where there is no breathing but a pulse?
 
cfman said:
Okay, so let me get this straight:

No breathing, no pulse: CPR with breathing & compressions
No breathing, pulse: Only breathing, NO compressions

How likely are you to encounter a situation where there is no breathing but a pulse?
Click to expand...

all the time. Opiate overdoes come to mind. People with COPD having respiratory failure. I am sure there are more.

And it isn't just the cessation of all breathing but the lack of adequate breathing that sustains life.
 
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Aside from pulse rechecks, shouldn't you also Look, Listen, & Feel?
 
cfman said:
Aside from pulse rechecks, shouldn't you also Look, Listen, & Feel?
Click to expand...

Yes, if the pt starts to breath adequately on his/her own... then you can stop breathing for them. But keep in mind, that they can stop breathing adequately again if the underlying problem is not fixed... so keep a close eye on the pt until ALS arrives. So even though a person is breathing, they may not be breathing adequately... so you may have to assist a person even tho they are breathing on their own.

Take Care,
 
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cfman said:
How likely are you to encounter a situation where there is no breathing but a pulse?
Click to expand...

Don't forget that most pediatric arrests begin with a respiratory event; in addition to the sage advice above, you need to know how to clear obstructed airways as well. All the rescue breathing in the world isn't going to do any good if there's not a patent airway.
 
cfman said:
Here's a very quick CPR question. I learned to Look, Listen, & Feel, and then feel for pulse.

In the event that the person if no breathing & there is no pulse, you perform CPR.

What if there is no breathing but the pt has a pulse?
Do you never perform CPR if a pulse is present?
Click to expand...

Before this question can be appropriately answered, we would need to know if you're referring to lay rescuer or healthcare provider CPR guidelines.
 
cfman said:
lay rescuer...thanks for all the info
Click to expand...
That changes the game.

The current guidelines do NOT specify a pulse check for the lay rescuer. So unless you take Healthcare Provider CPR, you aren't taught to check a pulse.

Essentially, the layperson pulse check was too often incorrect, so it got removed. Now, if someone doesn't show "signs of responsiveness" and they aren't breathing, then a LAY PROVIDER is taught to do CPR.
 
Okay, that makes sense. And two last things here.

If in the middle of a rescuer's cycles of breathing/compression a pt starts coughing/breathing/etc...does the rescuer stop the CPR and put the pt on his or her side to await EMS?

Also, prior to using the AED, should the rescuer always do the 5 cycles of breathing/compression?

Thanks for the help everyone.
 
cfman said:
Okay, that makes sense. And two last things here.

If in the middle of a rescuer's cycles of breathing/compression a pt starts coughing/breathing/etc...does the rescuer stop the CPR and put the pt on his or her side to await EMS?

Also, prior to using the AED, should the rescuer always do the 5 cycles of breathing/compression?

Thanks for the help everyone.
Click to expand...

Yes... if the patient shows signs of responsiveness... stop pressing on the chest and put them in the rescue position.
 
Cfman.. think of it this way.. CPR is providing for the pt those life supporting systems that the pt is not providing for themselves. Breathing for those who cannot breathe and a pulse/heartbeat for those who do not have one.

Also.. remember.. you are breathing for them.. not attempting to inflate them
 
cfman said:
Okay, that makes sense. And two last things here.

If in the middle of a rescuer's cycles of breathing/compression a pt starts coughing/breathing/etc...does the rescuer stop the CPR and put the pt on his or her side to await EMS?

Also, prior to using the AED, should the rescuer always do the 5 cycles of breathing/compression?

Thanks for the help everyone.
Click to expand...

In regards to the cycles of CPR prior to AED analyzing/defibrillation, you SHOULD do the cycles UNLESS YOU witnessed the cardiac arrest. If you should happen to witness the arrest, give the 2 rescue breaths and hook em up and follow the AEDs instructions.
 
Hi everyone,

I have a few other questions that have arisen.

1. With a conscious choking infant, aside from the back slaps, do you give chest compressions as well?

2. At what point do you administer CPR to a choking victim - once they have lost consciousness?

3. With an unconscious patient that has an airway obstruction, if you cannot see the object in his/her mouth, do you do any sort of breathing for the patient or just chest compressions?

4. You find an unconscious patient that you’re told has an airway obstruction. Do you do any sort of thrusts or go right into CPR?

Thanks for any help. I am looking to hone my CPR skills.
 
Also, prior to using the AED, should the rescuer always do the 5 cycles of breathing/compression?
Click to expand...

If you see them go down, hook up the AED right away. If the arrest is unwitnessed, do the cycles first, THEN the AED.





1. With a conscious choking infant, aside from the back slaps, do you give chest compressions as well?

2. At what point do you administer CPR to a choking victim - once they have lost consciousness?

3. With an unconscious patient that has an airway obstruction, if you cannot see the object in his/her mouth, do you do any sort of breathing for the patient or just chest compressions?

4. You find an unconscious patient that you’re told has an airway obstruction. Do you do any sort of thrusts or go right into CPR?
Click to expand...

Going by Healthcare Provider CPR level here;

1. Back slaps/chest compressions until the object is dislodged of pt becomes unresponsive.

2. When a pt becomes limp and unresponsive, you ease them to the ground and go right into compressions. After 30 compressions, check the airway, then proceed CPR like normal.

3. After your first set of compressions, check the airway. If you don't see an object, attempt to ventilate, hoping to get some bit of air around the object. Look for chest rise.

4. One of those iffy ones. I was always told ABCs when it comes to 3rd party info. Basically, do CPR like normal... open airway, attempt to ventilate, compressions.
 
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cfman said:
Hi everyone,

I have a few other questions that have arisen.

1. With a conscious choking infant, aside from the back slaps, do you give chest compressions as well?

2. At what point do you administer CPR to a choking victim - once they have lost consciousness?

3. With an unconscious patient that has an airway obstruction, if you cannot see the object in his/her mouth, do you do any sort of breathing for the patient or just chest compressions?

4. You find an unconscious patient that you’re told has an airway obstruction. Do you do any sort of thrusts or go right into CPR?

Thanks for any help. I am looking to hone my CPR skills.
Click to expand...

You need to sign up for a CPR class. If you are looking at entry into EMS, it should be an AHA Healthcare Provider class or ARC CPR for the professional rescuer. All of these questions are covered in the classes. The answers are slightly different depending on whether you are a bystander or an EMS responder.
 
Answer

No breathing but pulse= no Compressions just breaths if you do compressions you may harm the patient
 
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