Written by Sam Darwin
It is common for the American Heart Association (AHA) to update its CPR guidelines every five years. These guidelines result from a meticulous evidence review process that lasts several years. But in 2015, the organization decided to take a different approach to this evaluation process and standards. It unveiled a new strategy that uses ongoing, online evidence evaluation.
This new adjustment is necessary as it makes it possible to assimilate different scientific breakthroughs. Therefore, they ensure they are more effective and can introduce the guidelines across hospitals and communities.
In 2020, the AHA organization released its guidelines under the new procedure. The policies contain 491 specific guidelines for CPR for laypeople and medical professionals.
This article will define CPR and the best time to use it. Besides, it will also expound more on the latest advancement of CPR in the medical field.
CPR and CPR Training?
In a medical emergency, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can help to save a person’s life in case of breathing complications or when their heart stops. To perform CPR the right way, you must either undergo CPR training or be CPR-certified. Such training sessions do not mandate physical presence and can even be taken online.
When a person is experiencing cardiac arrest, their heart will be unable to pump blood to the rest of the body, including the brain and lungs. Medical care is highly recommended during this state, as death can occur within minutes.
CPR is effective as it imitates the heart’s pumping action and uses chest compressions. It is effective as each compression supports the body’s natural blood circulation.
Remember that heart attacks and cardiac arrest are different. When the heart’s blood supply is cut off, a patient will have a heart attack. Besides, during a heart attack, a person can speak and breathe.
When a person is undergoing a heart attack, they may not need CPR. But it is safe to rush this person to a nearby hospital. This is because cardiac arrest is more likely to occur after a heart attack.
The Latest CPR Guidelines in the Medical Field
1. Encourages Layperson to Administer CPR
Most of the AHA CPR guidelines focus on CPR treatment practices for medical professionals. However, the organization has spent a lot of time updating its standards for laypeople’s education and training also. So you can renew your CPR card online as the organization aims to make it more accessible.
This is because recent statics revealed that about 350,000 adult patients went into cardiac arrest outside hospitals in 2015. And before EMS teams arrived, less than 40% of the patients received CPR from bystanders, while 12% received AED use.
According to reports, the rate of cardiac arrests outside of a hospital has reached a severe plateau since 2012. That’s why AHA is keen to promote online CPR training for a layperson in its latest guidelines. This will ensure they have self-confidence in performing life-saving CPR.
2. As a Layperson, You Should Start CPR Immediately
This has been among the requirements from the 2010 AHA guidelines. A lay rescuer shouldn’t bother to check for a pulse in case a patient suddenly collapses. The right thing to do is assume cardiac arrest and start CPR immediately.
The latest 2020 guidelines confirmed that recommendation. They encourage lay rescuers to do CPR right away in such circumstances and not waste time checking for a pulse.
This is because most non-medical practitioners often find it challenging to find a pulse, especially in emergencies. Besides, CPR first aid is less dangerous even if the patient is not in cardiac arrest.
3. Advice on Online Video Training for Layperson CPR
The latest AHA guidelines encourage accessibility and education for laypeople as well. It is vital to have CPR training available to anyone who cares about saving lives.
AHA recommendations from 2015 state that online self-learning paired with hands-on, instructor-led training for layperson CPR should be considered alternatives to traditional in-person seminars.
Additionally, the research proved that video-based online CPR training and self-directed teaching have no significant difference from in-person training. So if you’re a layperson CPR, you can take CPR certification online, which will still apply according to the 2020 AHA guidelines.
With these new guidelines, AHA hopes many people will feel encouraged to pursue a CPR certification. This is because this type of training is available widely. Besides, if you need a CPR renewal certification, you can access it anytime.
Moreover, the 2020 guidelines encourage lay rescuers to learn how to administer Naloxone to patients experiencing a drug overdose. Besides, they also encourage middle and high schools to introduce CPR training to establish a sense of confidence and familiarity at a young age for many lay rescuers.
4. A Mobile System That Can Alert Trained Laypersons CPR
The latest CPR guidelines encourage people to leverage the latest mobile phone technologies. This will aid in notifying the CPR and AED-trained bystanders in case of an emergency with a cardiac arrest patient.
This technology will make it quick and simple for dispatchers to notify trained CPR volunteers and bystanders in case of an emergency in a neighborhood. This will be a vital accomplishment as it increases the likelihood that cardiac arrest patients will receive life-saving CPR before the EMTs arrive.
Moreover, the Internal Liaison on Resuscitation (ILCOR) supports this advice, as its thorough analysis found that a mobile warning system might speed up trained bystander responses. And as a result, it will increase the number of cardiac arrests patients receiving bystander CPR. Besides, this will raise the survival rates for cardiac arrest patients outside hospitals.
5. Quality of Adult CPR With Chest Compressions
Regarding adult CPR, the AHA guidelines reiterate the importance of quality chest compression. It is crucial as it ensures improved survival metrics, but the compression depth rate changes guidelines are only for adult patients.
According to the guidelines, it is highly advised for adult patients to have chest compressions of at least 2 inches, but it shouldn’t be greater than 2.4 inches.
But it is also encouraged to have a moderate strength for compression rates between 100-120 compressions per minute.
Conclusion
CPR first aid is now considered one of the most crucial components of survival in case of a cardiac arrest. The latest guidelines by AHA are based on scientific research and intend to increase a person’s chances of survival in case of cardiac arrest. These new guidelines are necessary because there is always a 90% possibility of death in cardiac arrest cases outside the hospital.
So the AHA guidelines recommendation for online video classes for layperson CPR training is a great place to start. This will help see an increase in survival for cardiac arrest patients. Also, it is vital to take a CPR certification renewal to stay updated with the latest CPR guidelines.
Please also review AIHCP’s Health Care Life Coaching Certificate and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Life Coaching.