When every second counts: What you need to know about CPR
A man collapses at home. A woman falls unconscious in a market. A young footballer drops to the ground during a match. Someone slumps over in a matatu. For a moment, everyone freezes. “Call an ambulance,” someone says, or someone flags down a good Samaritan to help ferry the patient to the nearest health facility. […] The post When every second counts: What you need to know about CPR appeared…
Every second matters when a person's heart stops. World Restart a Heart Day is observed on October 16 to remind us that the people closest to the victim are often the first responders. Heart attack and cardiac arrest are not the same thing, although they are often confused. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, while cardiac arrest is caused by the heart's electrical system malfunctioning, leading to a chaotic or stopped heartbeat. Without immediate CPR and, if necessary, a defibrillator shock, death can occur within minutes.
A heart attack is usually the trigger for cardiac arrest in adults, but it can also happen later in life due to scar tissue from a previous heart attack. Other causes include weakened heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), abnormal thickening, inherited conditions, and blood supply blockage during activity in young people.
Recognize the emergency, call for help, and begin CPR if the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Hands-only CPR is a simple way for untrained bystanders to help during cardiac arrest, especially in Kenya where hospital arrival may be delayed. An automated external defibrillator (AED) can provide an electric shock, but it is only effective if someone knows to perform CPR first. Everyone can learn CPR, and making AEDs more accessible in public places can improve survival rates.
Written by urgent.news from KBC's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
