Table of Content
- Introduction
- What is Hands-only CPR?
- What is the Purpose of Hands-Only CPR?
- Benefits of Hands-Only CPR
- How to do Hands-Only CPR?
- Risks Associated With Hands-Only CPR
- Why Consider Hands-Only CPR?
What would you do to save someone’s life in case of a heart attack? Bystanders are often reluctant to provide CPR for fear of making situations worse. They may worry about causing harm by performing the procedure incorrectly or the rescue breathes required, which many people avoid due to some hygiene-related concerns. However, it is still possible to save a person’s life without giving rescue breaths. Yes, Hands-Only CPR is sufficient to keep the victim alive in emergencies until medical assistance arrives.
Studies conducted at Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, have shown that Hands-Only CPR training initiatives have increased bystander CPR rates to over 75%. However, you must learn the correct procedure to conduct CPR, which we will discuss in this article.
What is Hands-only CPR?
Hands-only CPR refers to the process of giving chest compressions to victims without rescue breaths. This method is as effective as traditional CPR for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest emergencies. Although several rescuers may not know how to deliver rescue breaths, they can offer assistance by providing Hands-Only CPR.
Hands-only CPR involves pushing on the center of the victim’s chest hard and fast until the person is revived. The purpose of Hands-Only CPR is to enable blood to pump across the victim’s body until medical help arrives on the scene for more advanced life support.
The best part about Hands-Only CPR is that it requires little formal training. The technique is simple and easy to learn, which makes it accessible to anyone who witnesses a cardiac arrest emergency. Bystanders who are not confident or have no training in traditional CPR with rescue breaths can provide immediate assistance by performing Hands-Only CPR.
Read More: How Long to Perform CPR?
What is the Purpose of Hands-Only CPR?
Hands-Only CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) serves as a simplified yet effective method to help someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, where the heart stops beating unexpectedly. This technique focuses solely on chest compressions, eliminating the need for mouth-to-mouth breathing that’s part of conventional CPR.
The main Hands-Only CPR purposes are:
- To manually pump blood through the heart to vital organs, especially the brain
- To maintain blood circulation until emergency medical help arrives
- To provide a less intimidating way for bystanders to help, increasing the likelihood they’ll take action
When someone’s heart stops, their blood still contains enough oxygen to sustain vital organs for several minutes. When you perform quick, deep chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 per minute, you can help circulate this oxygen-rich blood throughout the victim’s body. This keeps critical organs functioning until professional medical care is available. Hence, Hands-Only CPR can be just as effective as traditional CPR in many adult cardiac arrest situations.
Benefits of Giving Hands-Only CPR
If you are a healthcare professional, knowing just the Hands-Only CPR definition is not enough. You must also know the benefits associated with this technique, which has helped save the lives of several patients.
Increased Chances of a Patient’s Survival
Hands-only CPR greatly increases a person’s chances of survival even if you do not perform it perfectly. It works on the principles of cardiac arrest response to preserve blood flow and supply oxygen to essential organs.
As a bystander, you can buy crucial, life-saving time for the patient in cardiac arrest by providing immediate and consistent chest compressions.
Ease of Learning
Hands-only CPR is significantly easier and faster to learn than traditional CPR methods. Other conventional methods usually involve a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths. The focus on chest compressions allows you to respond quickly in emergency situations, as it is a simpler skill to remember. Moreover, a few bystanders hesitate to help victims due to hygiene-related concerns, such as the risk of infections or disease transmission. So, Hands-Only CPR provides a safer and more approachable option for everyone.
Pandemic-safe Intervention
The risk of transmitting respiratory infections becomes a concern during infectious outbreaks like COVID-19. In such cases, giving rescue breaths without direct mouth contact is exactly what Hands-Only™ CPR is capable of achieving. This makes it a safer option for bystanders to provide assistance to victims in need. It also helps maintain personal safety and reduces the risk of exposure to any infections.
Read More: When to Use an AED Vs CPR?
How to Perform Hands-Only CPR?
Once you know what Hands-Only CPR is, the next step is to learn how to use this method to save victims’ lives. Cardiac emergencies often require instant assistance, which is why Hands-Only CPR is highly recommended for bystanders without medical training. The following key points will help you understand the procedure better:
Begin with Chest Compressions
Start giving compressions to the victim. The compression rate for CPR is between 100 and 120 compressions a minute. You should not go for rates above or below this range because it may reduce the chances of survival of the victim.
Compress the adult or teenaged victim’s chest to around two inches when giving CPR, but no more than 2.4 inches. On the other hand, the compression depth should be at least 1.5 inches in infants.
Administer Shock
Once you initiate CPR on the victim, the next step is to administer shock if an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available. These tools help analyze the heart rhythm and deliver shocks if needed. The given shocks restore the regular heartbeat of patients in cardiac emergencies. In addition, you must follow the prompts of the AED while continuing chest compressions until the arrival of advanced medical support.
Continue Hands-Only CPR Until Help Arrives
Keep giving chest compressions without rescue breaths until professional help arrives at the scene. Maintaining compressions is essential at this point because it helps keep blood flowing to the brain, heart, and other crucial organs of the human body.
Risks Associated with Hands-Only CPR
Hands-only CPR is generally considered a safer option for cardiac emergencies. However, there are a few considerations and potential risks that you must know before administering this method:
Injury to the Person
The force that you usually apply during chest compressions can cause injury, such as a punctured lung or broken ribs. However, the risk of injury is always lower than the risk of not performing CPR in cardiac arrest emergencies.
Inadequate Circulation
Hands-only CPR may not be as effective as traditional CPR, which includes both chest compressions and rescue breaths. This specifically applies to situations like drowning or respiratory-related cardiac arrests. Hence, providing rescue breaths along with chest compressions may be more beneficial in such crucial cases.
Delay in Advanced Care
Hands-only CPR is crucial only during the initial moments of a cardiac arrest because it helps maintain circulation and buys vital time until professional medical help arrives. However, it is not a substitute for advanced care, such as defibrillation or the administration of medications, which are required to stabilize the patient.
Becoming the Master of Hands-Only CPR!
Starting CPR immediately can always increase the chances of a victim’s survival in emergencies. However, not everyone may be comfortable with providing traditional CPR due to a lack of knowledge or confidence. A Hands-Only CPR method is the best way to respond in such cases because it enables bystanders to provide life-saving compressions without the added complexities of rescue breaths.
Please note that Hands-Only CPR is not a substitute for advanced medical care. You must contact emergency medical services immediately for more advanced life support. Not everyone knows the essential CPR skills, so the best way to learn them is by taking a certification course. These classes allow you to learn at your own pace and acquire necessary life-saving skills.
