Skip to main content

Knowing CPR Can Save a Life

CPR is a skill that Rico Aviation believes can make a difference in someone’s life. All of our highly trained staff have certifications in CPR and first aid. Cardiopulmonary recitation, or CPR, is the act of breathing and creating blood circulation for a person who is unable to do it themselves. A quick acting person with proper training can save a person’s life. Remember, this is not a certification, this is simply a one-person CPR overview.

Hand Placement

Compressions are the most important part of CPR. If all else fails, do everything you can to get quality chest compressions. To do this, start by placing on hand on top of the other on the person’s chest. The palm of the bottom hand should be in the middle of the chest between the nipples. If placed lower, you can accidentally cause more harm to the person.

Compressions

Once you have properly placed your hands, you can begin the compressions. To get a full compression place yourself at the side of the person. You need to have your arms locked and completely vertical over the person. If your arms are bent and not completely straight over the chest, then you will not get a quality compression. Once you are properly set, compress the chest to half of the person’s chest cavity, then release. You should do this at 100 beats per minute, or about the beat of the song Stayin’ Alive. Give 30 compressions before you break to give the person in need rescue breaths.

Rescue Breaths

After you complete 30 chest compressions, move behind the person’s head to begin rescue breaths. We recommend using a pocket mask to prevent sickness and spreading of germs. You can get them at first aid stores or on the red cross website. When you are behind the person, place the hole of the mask over the mouth. Put your thumbs over the top of the mask to secure it. Next, grab the base of the jaw bone with you middle and index fingers and tilt the head back. Doing this forces the person’s mouth to open.

Now you can give two normal-sized breaths with a slight pause in between. If the chest rises and falls, then the breaths successfully made it into the chest. If not, you may need to reseal the mask or tilt the head back farther. When you get two successful breaths, repeat the process of 30 chest compressions then 2 breaths again. It is important to remember that if you can’t get the breaths to go in after two tries, then focus on quality chest compressions. Chest compressions take precedent over breaths.

Additional CPR Information and Resources

This is simply a guide to one-person CPR. We encourage anyone and everyone to become CPR certified so you can be prepared if a loved one ever needs it. A CPR course will teach you advanced one-person and two-person CPR techniques, as well as give you hands-on practice with a dummy. You can find Red Cross CPR Certification classes in your area here: http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr

Leave a Reply