First aid refers to assistance in emergencies by the first person to reach the scene of an accident or emergency. This is not about professional help by rescue services, but about actions that every single person can perform. Since the rescue service can only be on site after a few minutes, first aid is the decisive factor in many emergencies for the survival of the person affected. Regular courses in first aid can show the helper how to help an affected person in certain situations.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
If, for various reasons, a person’s heart stops, only a few minutes remain to save that person. With every minute that the heart does not beat, the probability of survival decreases by about ten percent. However, on average, the rescue service is only on site after eight minutes.
To stop this process, it is important that first responders begin CPR. The rescuer checks the victim’s consciousness by addressing him or her and shaking him or her. He then stretches his head so that the airways are clear and checks that the person is breathing.
To do this, the rescuer takes the head sideways close above the mouth and nose of the affected person. If the person is not breathing, the rescuer first calls the emergency services on 112 and then begins CPR. The rescuer places one hand on the victim’s sternum at nipple level and places the second hand over it.
Then he begins to press down the sternum with strong pressure. The depth of pressure is about six centimeters for an average adult. The speed should be between 100 and 120 times per minute.
Between compressions, the chest should be completely relieved. After pressing 30 times, the caregiver again overextends the head of the patient and puts his mouth over the mouth of the patient. The nose is covered and the assistant breathes twice.
Afterwards the compression of the chest is continued. The rescuer repeats this until he is relieved by the rescue service or a second rescuer. If the rescuer is too disgusted to ventilate the patient, he or she can omit ventilation. Pushing is the more important part of resuscitation and should then be performed without interruption.
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