I just updated my first aid training last fall. I am sure there is a flaw in this video. At 1 minute and 25 seconds into the vid the reporter says "no need to check for a pulse, just start". The physician that follows states that there is no need to worry about injuring the patient as he is already dead. Now I'm no genius but I'm sure that zimming around and pumping breastplates without checking for lifesigns is not good.  You think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5huVSebZpM

skoker wrote on Feb 15^th, 2010 at 8:30pm:



Yes, my thoughts excactly. Make sure the person doesn't have a pulse first. CPR can break ribs and cause other injury and it does not have even a 30% success rate. Yup make sure the patient isn't just napping! Things could get ugly if you don't.   

Ok, where to start?  First, I am a firefighter and must re cert in CPR every 6 months, so I do know a little about what is going on.

This is a new form of CPR, designed for non emergency personnel, and has been approved by the American Heart Association.  The reason they removed the breaths is to get more people to perform CPR.  Often most lay people shy away from learning and using CPR because of the mouth to mouth contact.  Plus there have been new studies that show there is sufficient oxygen in the bloodstream and lungs to sustain life for up to 15 minutes after a person goes down, which by then paramedics should be on scene.   


As for injuring the person, as the video states, if you do nothing, the person dies.  Many people are afraid to do CPR, because they don't want to cause more injury, truth is, you can't.  You will break ribs doing CPR, often on the first compression.  The first time you hear that crack, it will freak you out (I did, fortunately the paramedics told me it was ok).  But broken ribs are a lot better than death. 

The entire reason for the emphasis on the compressions is to keep oxygenated blood flowing to the brain.  As I said earlier, there is plenty of oxygen in your bloodstream to keep you alive for 15 minutes, the problem is getting the blood to the brain.  That is why over the years we went from 15/2 to 30/2, and the compressions were sped up. 

As for checking for a pulse, only EMTs are taught to check for pulses, lay people are taught to shake the patient, and listen for breaths.  The average person wouldn't find a pulse on a live patient, or would spend too much time looking for it.

Any other questions?   

machineman9 wrote on Feb 16^th, 2010 at 10:33pm:


Watching the video, they do say to attempt to wake the subject by rubbing on the chest first, and making sure 911 is being called.  And believe me, the first time my 200 lbs comes down on your chest, you will be awake.     That being said, this is not a complete training video, as it didn't show hand location or much else.  As for it being dangerous, I don't think so.  Like it is said, the worse injury you may cause is broken ribs and some bruising.  You can't kill a person with compressions, and truth is, they are technically dead when you get there.  The CPR classes I've helped teach to lay persons has basically been about compressions, and how to do a proper compression, plus AED assistance.  We don't even bother much with breathing, just get your hands between the nipple line, and compress 1 1/2 to 2 inches, at 100 beats per minute, or at a fairly rapid rythm.  Do 5 sets of 30, then hopefully rotate out with someone else, without stopping compressions for long. 

I've heard about this "if ribs don't break, you're doing it wrong" concept... but isn't the damage (the source of the cracking or clicking sound) actually to the cartilage where the ribs join the sternum, or where front and back ribs connect? I remember hearing that somewhere once... 

beaky wrote on Feb 17^th, 2010 at 7:11pm:


I would think that is true in some cases. I'll leave that to someone more qualified. Either way the pain causes difficulty in breathing. I have heard a broken rib that is also torn away from the cartilage is a bad way to be.

DaveSims wrote on Feb 17^th, 2010 at 8:29pm:


I'll agree on that point. History shouldn't repeat itself.

skoker wrote on Feb 15^th, 2010 at 8:30pm:

It would be pointless to check for a pulse while someone is doing CPR, because the CPR would create a false pulse because of the compressions.

machineman9 wrote on Feb 16^th, 2010 at 7:56pm:

I see no need to rant about this subject, all I see is a little ignorance from non emergency personnel. Of course we can't all be medical experts, and I blaim no one for the lack of knowlegde, but I think it's a little bit harsh to blaim the doctors for doing it wrong.

Sorry if I stepped on someones toes..

Cheers Theis, First Aid Volunteer, Danish Red Cross.