Cardiac arrest - how to fix :D

[Angus]

Happy new year all, and let's start with this one who was brought to my attention by my wife.
The Brits sure know how to make informative clips that you'll never forget
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILxjxfB4zNk

[rogwar]

Thanks for sharing!

Reminds me of Snatch.

[Angus]

You're welcome.
Here is another "cardiac arrest":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fTkxwIlFpg
Well, a story of one. But I will follow up with a little story from my dull farming life

Here goes.

Once upon a time, my wife worked for a law firm, and the firm staff pooled up money and went travelling (incl. spouses) every 2 years.
On such a trip, I found myself located in Vilnius, Lithuania, where everybody was having a jolly good drinking time at the hotel bar.
There were 2 Finnish ladies and a Finnish gentleman drinking and toasting at the next table. Now...that means pure Vodka which gets softened with the strongest beer available. Average age estimated 55 or so.
In the heat of the toasting the gentleman stood up for a toast (I think), then rolled his eyes and keeled over, slamming on the floor like a stiff corpse with the back of his head first.
Absolutely nobody raised an eybrow about this. The Finnish ladies were too drunk to calculate, and everybody was sort of keeping a distance for trouble. But, I'm just a farmer you see, so I took a look at the guy.
He had a very slow and weak pulse, but steady in rythm (about 30 pr minute). However, he did not breathe at all.
So, what is it to be? no need for any cardiac treatment, but breathing. oh crap! I'd rather have kissed an alligator (kiss of life)  than that vomit-looking-completely-drunk-Finnish-probably-lumberjack.
So, out of experience the back of my head whispered to me : "PAIN".
See, having delivered some hundreds of calves, and a bigger number of lambs in my dull job, this thing happens. Sometimes they don't kick in after leaving momma. So cold water, a slap on the cheek etc will often do the trick, but sometimes it is heart massage and breathing aid, - even did that with a foal once.
So, I pinched the guy, and twisted his ears.
No responce.
A choice for breathing aid, and nobody was even calling 999 (or whatever it is in Lithuania)
Next step, - a SLAP. So I slapped the poor bloke left and right on both cheeks, with growing strength and confidence. PAM PAM PAM PAM.
And suddenly he opened his blurred eyes and grasped for air.
Quite happy about the whole deal I helped him on his feet, assisted by the 2 completely drunk ladies who had the sense to support him from both left and right side.
When he was standing I asked him if he was allright.
He replied with a punch that gave me a bloody nose.
Next time I see a suffocating Finnishman I will probably just step ON him. Well, that was just a little joke.
The end of the story is that the guy could never have entered a fight, for he fell after throwing the punch. He was then dragged to his room, and when I saw him the next day in the hotel lobby, he must have had the combined hangover of all Texas on the 5th of July.
The moral of the story is still, always help a person in distress, just don't expect some saintly gratitude.
And the link with the video, - is there no importance of getting the aspiration to work in a condition of a cardiac arrest? My studies said 7 pumps and one blow. Was that wrong, or are people not trusted with such complex matters? For no breathing will leave you toast or dead before the ambulance....

[nrshida]

And the link with the video, - is there no importance of getting the aspiration to work in a condition of a cardiac arrest? My studies said 7 pumps and one blow. Was that wrong, or are people not trusted with such complex matters? For no breathing will leave you toast or dead before the ambulance....

The Hands-only CPR technique is intended for people who have not studied First Aid and do not know CPR. Apparently something like 9 out of 10 people do not survive their first heart attack. This technique apparently improves their chances of survival.

This version was the one I saw with a couple of additional funny touches:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR0aZX1_TD8


Your story isn't uncommon Angus, sometimes people are in no position to even understand they are being helped.  to your actions.

[Rob52240]

That was awesome.

I'm checking ebay right now to get myself an officially licensed Vinnie Jones Heimlich Remover.

[allaire]

Angus current Red Cross standards are 30 pumps and 2 breaths repeat until help arrives or you can't do it anymore.

[Rob52240]

Hands only CPR is becoming more prominent as what people are encouraged to do.  It's been proven to be effective and people are more likely to do it because it's so simple and essentially 100% safe.

[skorpion]

Angus current Red Cross standards are 30 pumps and 2 breaths repeat until help arrives or you can't do it anymore (or if the scene becomes dangerous).

Added one thing you forgot.

[nrshida]

That's interesting. My training was 2 breaths and 15 compressions, although they did change it temporarily to 1 and 5.

[Angus]

As I said 1:7 in my training, but that was 1987...
We trained for hours though, sadly we had this hideous "doll", so we could not train the breathing on the female part of the class, - but, muhahaha, - the doll looked better than some of them 

[nrshida]

 

The endurance of the resusitator is of course a factor! 

[Rob52240]

That's interesting. My training was 2 breaths and 15 compressions, although they did change it temporarily to 1 and 5.

I used to be required to keep my certification valid for the Red Cross's CPR For the Professional Rescuer.  It's been steadily dumbed down over the years.

[nrshida]

I did the St. John's Ambulance courses. I watched a television programme which observed that since you spend something like 80% of your time with friends, relatives or colleagues that it might be a good idea to learn what to do in the event of an accident 

[MaSonZ]

The Hands-only CPR technique is intended for people who have not studied First Aid and do not know CPR. Apparently something like 9 out of 10 people do not survive their first heart attack. This technique apparently improves their chances of survival.

This version was the one I saw with a couple of additional funny touches:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR0aZX1_TD8


Your story isn't uncommon Angus, sometimes people are in no position to even understand they are being helped.  to your actions.

if it is an un-witnessed cardiac arrest (no one saw it) if the ambulance can arrive is approximately 3 minutes and adequate CPR (Chest compressions, breaths and defibrilation) is given, those 9/10 not surviving change significantly. and the first heart attack? I'm not a doctor, but if it the first heart attack the heart is at its strongest point for the patient, meaning despite their medical history, the heart will never be the same strength again. a heart attack kills cardiac muscle tissue, this death of muscle is what makes the heart attack fatal. the less muscle there is to restart with the defib, the less muscle to keep it going when (Assuming it does) get restarted. I could go on for a lengthy explanation....but I wouldn't want to bore anyone.

[nrshida]

if it is an un-witnessed cardiac arrest (no one saw it) if the ambulance can arrive is approximately 3 minutes and adequate CPR (Chest compressions, breaths and defibrilation) is given, those 9/10 not surviving change significantly.

Yup. Conventional CPR is intended to keep vital tissue oxygenated until help can arrive. Still no guarantee that the patient's heart could be restarted.

and the first heart attack?

That's what the British Heart Found says MaSonZ, I don't know why it is.