-Self CPR-
~~Self CPR~~
Pay Attention ~~This could save your life, or the life of a loved one!
Let's say it's 6:15 p.m. And you're driving home
(alone of course), after an usually hard day on the job.
You're really tired, upset and frustrated.
Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain
In your chest that starts to radiate out
Into your arm and up into your jaw.
You are only about five miles from the hospital
Nearest your home.
Unfortunately you don't know if you'll be
Able to make it that far.
What can you do?
You've been trained in CPR
But the guy that taught the course didn't tell
You what to do if it happened to yourself.
Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, this article seemed to be in order.
Without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint,
Has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness.
However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously.
A deep breath should be taken before each
Cough, and the cough must be deep
And prolonged, as when producing sputum
From deep inside the chest.
A breath and a cough must be repeated
About every two seconds without let up
Until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.
Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and
Keep the blood circulating.
The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital.
Tell as many other people as possible about this, it could save their lives!
From Health Cares, Rochester General Hospital via Chapter 240s newsletter
'AND THE BEAT GOES ON '
(reprint from The Mended Hearts, Inc. Publication, Heart Response
Heart attacks can strike unexpectedly, leaving many individuals vulnerable, especially when alone. Knowing how to execute self-CPR can be life-saving in these situations. Self-CPR involves taking deep breaths followed by forceful coughs, which can help maintain blood flow to the heart despite the danger. By inhaling deeply before each cough, the process mimics the heart's natural rhythm and circulates oxygen in your system. Research indicates that each cough should be about every two seconds, lending you the chance to keep yourself conscious long enough for professional assistance to arrive. This emergency method is particularly crucial since nearly half of all heart attack cases occur outside of hospitals. While formal CPR training teaches how to help others, self-CPR knowledge is often overlooked. It’s essential to share this information widely—friends and family need to know that self-help is possible in dire circumstances. Furthermore, as awareness about heart health increases, adopting a lifestyle that includes regular health check-ups, stress management, and a balanced diet can reduce heart attack risks. Taking these steps significantly contributes to overall heart health, potentially preventing situations that necessitate self-CPR. In summary, understanding and practicing self-CPR might not only save your life but also empower those around you to act swiftly and effectively in emergencies. Don't hesitate—the more educated people are about heart health and CPR techniques, the better the survival rate during a heart attack.
