Bystander CPR

The goal of CPR is to return effective ventilation and circulation as quickly as possible to minimize hypoxic damage to vital organs. It is not sufficient to restore spontaneous circulation if the patient is left neurologically devastated or incurs severe morbidity in the process. Factors proved to enhance prehospital survival include the occurrence of a witnessed arrest, rapid implementation of bystander CPR, presence of VF as the initial rhythm, and early defibrillation therapy for VF. In one report, the rate of survival to hospital discharge was 74% when defibrillation was performed within 3 minutes of a witnessed cardiac arrest compared with 49% when defibrillation was performed after 3 minutes (p =. 02). ... 

Funded by the American Heart Association, the study is significant because, in the U.S., bystanders attempt CPR oniy about 26 percent of the time, according to Bentiey J. Bobrow, M.D, iead author of the study. Research has shown that bystander CPR can doubie - even tripie - survivai from out-of-hospitai cardiac arrest. 

The likelihood of a successful resuscitation outcome is enhanced if each of four critical elements in the chain of survival is implemented promptly (1) early recognition of the emergency and activation of emergency medical services (2) early bystander basic life support and CPR (3) early delivery of a shock with a defibrillator and (4) early ACLS followed by resuscitation care delivered by healthcare professionals. 

Early bystander basic life support and CPR. Basic life support is based on the assessment and application of the ABCs airway, breathing, and circulation. 

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