Could it be that the 'Stayin Alive' beat compressions also aspirate the lungs, or is it possible to restore the heartbeat this way?
I was also confused about that but I heard about it first from Vinnie & you don't argue with Vinnie. 
No Paramedics or Doctors on the forum?
just finished EMT-Basic courses, does this count? going to school next year for paramedic though. been doing EMS for a few years too, can give a little knowledge.
Compressions just help partially do what the diaphram normally does. Even with a defibrillator, you can't restart a stopped heart.
I must ask, why do rescuers do the compressions DIRECTLY over the heart if its to push air through the body? the hemoglobin in your red blood cells carry oxygen, without that blood moving the oxygen doesnt circulate. Going to the defib point, the heart is ran on an electrical charge (what??), and I'm drawing a blank on how that charge is started, but thats a moot point. the point is this: a heart attack occurs when the charge is interrupted, while the charge is interrupted the cardiac cells die until it is started again. you may ask at this point, how do the cells die so quick if its a quick interruption? that is called a heart murmur. a prolonged interruption is called Cardiac arrest, which is when the spark needs to be jump started. think of this way if its easier for you: your car battery dies. the car battery is like your berating heart. saying the "dead" heart can not be jump started using a defib is like saying jumper cables wont start a car. results arent as reliable as jumping a car, but same principle. if the defib isnt to restart the heart, and the compressions are not to circulate oxygenated blood to profuse the cells, then what is the sense in doing chest compressions or shocking with a defib?
Just a thought. My course was at a farmers school, and could it be a different point?
There is no chance in hell that the ambulance would be at "your spot" (my spot) in 3 minutes, you'd rather make your bet on 30, and as my neighbours conditions are today (ice & snow) you'd be saying 1-2 hours.
Keep Vinnie pumping for an hour without aspiration, and the patient is dead. Eventually the pump itself will stop completely due to lack of oxygen.
Additionally, from the top of my head, - some 70% of those who have their first heart stroke survive.
it probably was a different class you did. I did my first CPR course in my first responder cert course 3 years ago, and most recently i did the EMT CPR course during my class. there ares slight differences, but same principle.
Unless the ambulance crew happened to be there at the timme of ehart attack, your right, the ambulance will seldom, if ever e there in 3 minutes. but the every day joe shmoe must have some knowledge of chest compressions, and a slightly brighter one may have some knowledge about the oxygenation needed for CPR. an intelligent dispatcher will do what he was trained to do though when someone calls 9-11, instruct the caller through basic CPR until the ambulance arrives. this is the 3 minute point I was making. sorry for not making that clear.
I'll check my post in the morning, make sure i gave the right info. 11 at night and i was doing things from 7:30AM to 6:45PM. body isnt used to it.
