Just a Phone Call Can Save People From Cardiac Arrest

People suffering from heart disease are often at risk of a cardiac attack, which makes their lives quite complicated. If they suffer a cardiac arrest in the hospital, doctors can immediately offer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to save their lives.

But the scenario becomes challenging for patients who suffer an out of the hospital cardiac arrest. Only a few people are aware of CPR and getting help from the public can be strenuous and time-consuming.

Death is Reversible Within First 10 Minutes of Cardiac Arrest, CPR Helps Save Lives
CPR compresses the heart between the sternum and the backbone and builds up pressure that keeps oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and keeps the person alive.

‘It is feasible even for a layman to save lives from cardiac arrest through Telephone-Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) instructions delivered by 9-1-1 dispatchers in the United States.’

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Every second matters for a heart attack sufferer and immediate treatment can only save their lives. So far, CPR is offered only by trained rescuers and waiting for them to arrive at the place of the victim can delay the time for giving the life-saving treatment.

Heart disease tops the chart of preventable deaths in the United States. Out of Hospital Cardiac arrest (OHCA) has also emerged as a major public health problem in the United States. Though Bystander CPR (BCPR), a person who is near to a cardiac victim offers CPR, has increased the survival rates, still many victims fail to receive the treatment.

Therefore, American Heart Association and several other organizations have stressed the importance of Telephone CPR. 911 call takers can guide the layman on BCPR to improve survival.

CPR Performed by Lay Bystanders in Higher Income Pennsylvania Counties
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is more likely to be performed by members of the public, when they witness someone having a cardiac arrest, in counties with higher median household incomes.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Arizona among found that telephone CPR significantly increased the survival rates from 44% to 53 %. Also, it reduced the time for BCPR from 256 seconds to 212 seconds and improved the chances of survival post-discharge from 5.6% to 8.3%.

"These outcomes are significant because they demonstrate that it is feasible to save more lives with the 9-1-1- system, which already is in place. This intervention of Telephone CPR instructions should be carefully implemented and continuously measured to assure maximal impact," Dr. Bobrow said.

35 Minutes Of CPR For Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest can Help Achieve Favorable Results
The study in more than 17 000 patients found that nearly all survivals were achieved within 35 minutes and longer CPR achieved little benefit.

So, if telephone-CPR gets implemented any person can save a cardiac arrest victim just by dialing 911 and offering BPCR like a pro.

Source-Medindia

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