Last Updated on: September 2, 2024
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The survival chances after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for in-hospital cardiac arrest accounts for 17%. This makes it a crucial process for increasing the chances of survival for victims. It can also minimize the risk of damage to the human brain and other organs. Several approaches to CPR have gained recognition and popularity. One of them is hands-on CPR, which is beneficial for those professionals who do not have formal training in complete CPR.
Hands-only CPR is used to give compressions without rescue breaths outside medical settings. This first-aid technique is simple to learn and easy to remember. Let’s learn more about hands-only CPR, its benefits, and other details below.
Hands-only CPR refers to the process of giving continuous chest compressions without performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Some rescuers are not trained to deliver rescue breaths, but they can help by providing hands-on CPR. It improves the victim’s chance of survival by preventing cardiac arrest.
A hands-only CPR purpose is to circulate blood to the brain and other parts of the body. This method comes in handy when the victim’s heart stops or beats ineffectively.
Hands-only CPR involves pushing hard and fast on the center of the victim’s chest. The goal is to get blood pumping through the victim’s body until paramedics arrive. It enables them to perform more advanced life support and save the victim later.
This first-aid method is most effective on adults since cardiovascular problems often cause cardiac arrest. In contrast, most cardiac arrest events in children relate to respiratory deficiencies.
Performing full CPR is always the best option for a positive outcome. It is a combination of 30 compressions to two rescue breaths. However, hands-on CPR is a better option for those who do not know the process.
Read More: Chain of Survival: How Early CPR and Defibrillation Saves
Healthcare professionals can perform hands-only CPR in the following situations:
Traditional CPR with compressions and rescue breaths is better for infants and children. However, hands-only CPR is helpful when you are untrained or cannot perform rescue breaths.
Now that you know what is the purpose of hands-only CPR, let us focus on its differences from traditional CPR. The following table shows the difference between hands-only CPR and traditional CPR include:
| Category | Hands-only CPR | Traditional CPR |
| Technique | Focuses on chest compressions | Includes both chest compressions and rescue breaths |
| Rescue Breaths | Eliminates the need for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation | Involves a compression-to-ventilation ratio of 30:2 |
| Compression-to-Ventilation Ratio | Continuous chest compressions without interruptions for rescue breaths | 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths |
| Ease of Learning | Simpler and easier to learn, it increases bystander intervention likelihood | More complex and requires training to perform effectively |
| Effectiveness for Witnessed Adult Cardiac Arrests | Effective as traditional CPR for adult cardiac arrests in non-hospital settings | Effective in varied scenarios, but requires rescue breaths |
| Bystander Comfort | Suits bystanders who may feel hesitant about performing rescue breaths | This may deter some bystanders due to the need for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation |
Hands-only CPR concentrates on chest compressions without rescue breaths. This life-saving approach removes potential barriers to performing CPR and encourages people to take action in emergencies. This is especially important for individuals with concerns about mouth-to-mouth contact.
Here’s a quick guide to the steps for hands-only CPR:
Shout for someone to call emergency services, like 911 or a local emergency number. Seek help from bystanders and get an AED if possible. If you are alone, call from your cell phone as you begin compressions.
The next step for providing hands-only CPR is to position the person properly. Position the person properly by placing your hands on the center of their chest and delivering chest compressions at the recommended rate and depth. Here are the steps to perform chest compressions:
Place the palm of one hand on the center of the chest. Place your other hand on top of your first hand, interlocking the fingers.
Push down on the chest, using your body weight to compress at least 2 inches but no more than 2.4 inches.
Perform 100 to 120 chest compressions each minute during hands-only CPR. You can perform compressions to the beat of the song “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees.
Allow the chest to recoil without lifting your hands off the chest after each compression. Continue delivering hands-only CPR steps until emergency medical services arrive. Inform healthcare professionals about what happened and the actions you took.
The purpose for hands-only CPR is not limited to medical professionals. It equips everyday individuals with the ability to respond to cardiac emergencies. Knowing hands-only CPR increases the safety of those around you. Its benefits include:
Hands-only CPR increases a person’s chances of survival. Cardiac arrest response involves preserving blood flow and oxygen supply to essential organs, which is why this first-aid method focuses on continuous chest compressions. Bystanders can save the life of a person in cardiac arrest until professional help arrives by initiating immediate, consistent chest compressions.
Hands-only CPR is faster and easier to learn than traditional CPR methods, which involve a combination of rescue breaths and chest compressions. The simplified technique eliminates the need for rescue breaths, removing potential barriers and making it more accessible. The focus on chest compressions enables a quicker response in emergencies, making it a simpler skill to remember and eventually master.
The risk of transmitting respiratory infections through rescue breaths is a concern during pandemics. Hands-only CPR, which does not require rescue breaths, offers a safer option for bystanders to provide help without direct mouth-to-mouth contact. This aspect is relevant for maintaining personal safety and reducing the risk of exposure to infectious agents.
Hands-only CPR enables blood flow to a person’s brain after their heart stops beating. Healthcare professionals emphasize the importance of chest compressions over rescue breaths, with minimal interruptions to compressions being crucial for delivering high-quality CPR. This method ensures the circulation of oxygen to vital organs, maintaining a consistent compression rate and depth for effectiveness.
Knowing hands-on CPR empowers individuals to take immediate action during cardiac emergencies. This confidence can make a critical difference in high-stress situations, ensuring that bystanders are not paralyzed by fear and can provide the necessary aid promptly.
The more people trained in hands-on CPR within a community, the higher the preparedness for emergencies. This widespread knowledge creates a network of potential lifesavers, enhancing community safety and resilience in the face of sudden cardiac arrests.
Read More: Who Needs CPR Training In Healthcare and Who Does Not
Hands-only CPR is safe and can be a crucial intervention in saving a person’s life. However, there are a few considerations and risks to be aware of:
The force applied during chest compressions can cause injury, such as broken ribs or a punctured lung. However, the risk of injury is lower than the risk of not performing CPR, especially in a cardiac arrest situation.
Hands-only CPR may not be as effective as traditional CPR, which includes chest compressions and rescue breaths, in certain situations, such as drowning or respiratory-related cardiac arrests. In these cases, providing rescue breaths along with chest compressions may be more beneficial.
Hands-only CPR is crucial in the initial moments of cardiac arrest, but it is not a substitute for professional medical care. Make sure to call emergency medical services (EMS) as soon as possible, as advanced life support measures may be necessary.
Hands-only CPR is not a substitute for continued care under a healthcare professional. Even if a person achieves a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), they should follow through with a proper evaluation at an emergency center, regardless of whether the person regains consciousness and circulation.
Always contact EMS when a person suffers cardiac arrest or collapses. Hands-only CPR aims to reduce delays in providing compressions, but it does not replace the need to contact EMS. Call EMS on time, and if others are present, ask them to make the call. This is the fastest way to begin compressions and save lives.
Check the scene for safety before attempting to render aid or perform compressions. A hands-on procedure will not help if the bystander also suffers harm.
Allow trained bystanders to take over and render aid if available. While you could be the first person on the scene and begin performing chest compressions, anyone with CPR certification should follow the procedure if available. Traditional CPR is always better than hands-on care, but hands-on CPR is better than no CPR.
If you are alone and cannot contact EMS, scream and yell to get attention while performing compressions. Phone batteries can lose their charge, so attracting attention can be crucial.
So, does knowing first aid and hands-only CPR increase the safety of those around you? The answer is yes!
Early CPR is critical for increasing the chances of survival and reducing the risk of permanent damage in a person experiencing cardiac arrest. This happens by maintaining blood flow to the brain and other vital organs through hands-only CPR until professional medical help arrives.
EMS arrival often takes over 5 minutes in the absence of bystander intervention. Without bystander CPR and defibrillation, the victim may not survive. Remember, even a simple first-aid technique can save a person’s life. The same person’s life could depend on your willingness to assist. Remain calm and take action by performing hands-on CPR.
Trained individuals feel more confident in helping during a medical emergency. Empower yourself with CPR training to join the ranks of those who act quickly and effectively!
