Pay attention when giving chest compressions and giving breaths

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Huynh Kim Long - Emergency Resuscitation Doctor - Emergency Resuscitation Department - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital. Dr. Huynh Kim Long has extensive experience in the treatment of Resuscitation - Emergency and Acute Stroke in adults.

Cardiac arrest and apnea can happen suddenly and people with cardiac arrest or apnea need first aid to compress the heart, give breathers before being transferred to the hospital. But if not performed properly, it will lead to broken ribs.

Causes of respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest requiring cardiac compressions and rescue breathing for the victim include:

Surgical causes include: Multiple trauma causing traumatic brain injury and shock, circulatory arrest during surgery due to an anesthetic accident or due to massive blood loss causing tissue hypoxia.

Due to arrhythmias as well as direct stimulation of the heart, insertion of catheters or electrodes into the heart, coronary artery occlusion, overdose of antiarrhythmic drugs, diuretics, use of digital without potassium replacement. . Another cause of respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest is a cerebrovascular accident.
In addition, respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest can also be caused by accidents, poisoning such as electric shock, lightning, drowning or poisoning Aconitin, toad venom and acidosis in diseases such as pancreatic diabetes , renal failure as well as extracorporeal circulation is not technically guaranteed.
Besides, cases of acute respiratory failure and end-stage diseases can also lead to respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest.

When the victim has the following signs, it is necessary to conduct chest compressions and rescue breathing:
The victim lies motionless, the body pale. The victim has signs of stopping breathing: does not hear the victim's breathing, the victim's chest does not move, when using a cotton pad or thin paper placed on the victim's nose, it does not move. The victim's heart sounds are not heard and the carotid or brachial arteries are not beating.

When the victim stops heart, stops breathing, it is necessary to conduct chest compressions and give proper breaths to the victim. The wrong first aid not only makes first aid ineffective, but also risks putting the victim at risk, there are cases of chest compressions and rib fractures because the first aider has put their strength into the wrong position.
MSc, Dr. Vo Quang Huy - Deputy Director of the 115 Emergency Center in Ho Chi Minh City said: "It should be noted that if you are alone, first call 911 and put the victim on a hard surface. Let the victim lie on his back, it is best to use cloth, wood, etc. to hold the victim's head in place to avoid injury to the cervical spine, and then start performing first aid.
Another factor to keep in mind when performing chest compressions is the position, speed, and intensity of compression. For male victims, the pressure point is the intersection between the straight line along the sternum and the line connecting the two nipples. For female victims, determine the point located above the tip of the sternum and press at the point about 2 fingers above.
Press with a depth of about 4-5 cm and a speed of 100 - 120 times/minute. You need to pay attention to ensure that the victim's chest has recovered in time between the two compressions. You can give 30 compressions and give 2 breaths, or you can just give chest compressions in case the person performing first aid is not familiar with CPR or is afraid to give first aid to strangers. Another point to note is that the presser must use both hands to press in a direction perpendicular to the victim's body.