Learn about the new American Heart 2010 CPR Guidelines for 2010!
Updated Oct, 18th, 2010.
New CPR Guidelines Emphasize Compressions First American Heart Association says press hard and fast, whether an expert or untrained. The simplified form of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, focuses on giving chest compressions to keep the blood -- and the oxygen in the blood -- flowing to the heart and brain. If after you give 30 hard and fast chest compressions, you are trained or can perform mouth to mouth, do 2 one second breaths, then repeat 30 compressions until the AED arrives, you see signs of life or until ems or someone higher trained takes over. If you are not trained, or are unsure or do not have a barrier device for mouth to mouth, you may just activate ems (call 911) then press hard and fast in the center of the chest by pressing down with two hands compressing the chest 2 inches at a rate of at least 100 per minute. This is, of course, a lot faster than one per second. This is also higher than the old standard of "about 100 per minute"..now it states, "at least 100 per minute". Adults and children's chest should be compressed 2 inches, while infants 1.5 inches. Everyone should get "CAB" trained as soon as it is available. Compressions first or "CAB" is now going to be standard. This is Compress, then check airway and do 2 breaths. Lapyersons may do compression only, hands on, or "Hands Only" cpr if untrained or unable to do breaths. Here, the layperson just focuses on deep, hard compression of the chest to circulate the oxygenated blood to organs and the brain.
After calling 911 and doing these compressions, (or breaths and compressions) if someone else is nearby, send that person in search of an automatic external defibrillator (AED), a device that can shock the heart back into normal rhythm. "To give the victim the best chance of survival, three actions must occur within the first moments of a cardiac arrest: activation of the EMS [emergency medical services] system, provision of CPR and operation of a defibrillator," the new guidelines state. People currently are trained to learn the ABCs of CPR -- which stand for airway, breathing and compressions. But the AHA now suggests that the order should be CAB -- compressions first, then airway and breathing. The idea is the same as before, though: Get blood and oxygen moving as quickly as possible.
Every few years the American Heart Association gets together with other members of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) to evaluate the latest research surrounding CPR and emergency cardiac care (ECC). This includes: American Heart Association (AHA), American Red Cross (ARC), American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) and others emergency and healthcare organizations.
These guidelines are based on a systematic, evidence-based review of resuscitation science. The science is always changing, which is why American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC are updated every five years, with additional Scientific Statements released when necessary. In late 2010, the American Heart Association will publish new guidelines for CPR and ECC based on the scientific consensus of leaders in international resuscitation science. The guidelines reflect our continued commitment to save lives by updating resuscitation science, training, and education, and to improve the quality of care given by lay rescuers and healthcare providers.
2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC)!
How and why did they change CPR again? Healthcare is ever-changing, and so is CPR. The 2010 AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC will be posted in September or November of 2010. You can review the more than 400 ILCOR (International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation) worksheets posted at Americanheart.org/ILCOR. These worksheets include published scientific evidence from relevant, peer-reviewed journals that is analyzed and categorized into level of evidence grids with detailed summaries.
See more in November when the complete 2010 CPR Guidelines are published. Check back here or at the official AHA website http://www.americanheart.org to find out. How can instructors be updated to the new aha 2010 CPR guidelines? The initial meeting is in Chicago, Friday, Nov. 12. This day-long training conference will be open to all AHA instructors. It will provide instructors with an update on new science released in the official 2010 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC, as well as how to incorporate science changes into current CPR and ECC courses. After that, you can find it at your local AHA training center.
Save a life. Learn CPR! Find out more information, view our blog, videos and new CPR tutorials at www.newcprguidelinesupdate2010.com
