CPR for the first time!

[MikeD74T]

I would like your thought on the new way of CPR with hands only? easier yes, but is it as good as the old way, with no breathing?
The last time we had our refresher class in CPR they had changed from the old way from 30 and 2 breaths to just 30 compressions and no breathing. After I had given him the first 30 I felt that I should have given him 2 breaths , but didn't because I was told that the new way was better. In the stress of it all I tried to stay with what was just taught to us.
I'm shocked at the different % that there is in the survival rate . You make me more convinced to try and get a AED at that store. I can't help now to think that if they had a AED there that the chance of that man surviving would have jumped up from 2-8% to 20-43% how sad that the "only if "could have made that much more of a chance he'd be here today.
I keep coming in after I work for awhile to read more ,you all have made this alot easier to try and cope with.
Thanks again for all.

First One, I commend your effort and can only offer as consolence the fact that you didn't create the situation. I first took a CPR course in 1970 & have been an EMT in an industrial setting since 1988. In the business it's said that CPR is only performed on the dead as a reminder that it's most often unsuccessful but is a last ditch effort. A defibrillator (automatic or manual) stops the heart that is in fibrillation (rapid, shallow, out of sync contractions) with the hope that after the shock the heart will restart with a more normal rythum, but it will not start a stopped heart. I've never had a patient that presented as you described that presented a shockable rythum. I doubt whether an AED would have made any difference in your situation. The success numbers 20-43% have a lot more to do with paramedic level drugs & immediate defibrillation than anything else. Defibrillation within 4 minutes is very quick, even in a hospital lobby. Though it sounds cold, many patients are "worked" more for the benefit of the living than the patient. Death is inevitable and I'm glad you care enough for someone else's life to intercede. MikeD74T

 

[atgreene]

Good for you for trying to help.:thumbsup:

As a local FF EMT and as a full time Ff EMT I've done cpr well over 50 times, probably much more than that. The success rate is very low, but it's the few that you save that makes it all worth it. Someone you know (just had one) and children will mess with your head for a while. Talk to others about it, preferably someone in the EMS field who understands what you're dealing with. Most people have no idea what it's like and will not be able to relate when you talk about it.

We often will use bystanders to help us when we arrive if it looks like they know what they are doing. Getting equipment out and set-up, stretchers in place, BVM's, AED's, IV's, drugs etc.... all out and working takes many hands. By doing cpr for them that frees them up to move onto advanced life support measures.

Some things are ment to be, some aren't. Everyone deserves a chance and you gave that guy the best opportunity he could possibly have in that situation.

 

[First one]

Thanks again for all your help, each and everyone of you .
There were alot of things I had no idea of when I started CPR on the guy. Every time I read about info. that I didn't know from you guys, it helps to remind me it wasn't my fault that I couldn't save him , and it might not have made a diff. if I did have a AED there.
I thought that a AED would jump start a heart that stopped and to get a rhythm back. I guess I had more against me then I thought.
No matter what , I'll never turn away from someone in need of help , more so now then ever.
It's helped to hear about what you all have gone though and the advice and support you've given to us in dealing with this.
You guys are the hero's in our eyes, thanks!!

 

[dmccarty]

Also remember that he was dead when you started to help.

YOUR efforts provided a chance to bring the man back to his family.

Without YOUR effort, there was no chance.

Some chance is better than NO chance.

Later,
Dan

 

[KubotainNH]

First one, great job for trying. In my eyes you were there for 3 reasons:
1)giving someone a chance to live
2)being there for the man's companion
3)praying for the man which may have helped him more than you'll ever know

Now I look back at the CPR cert on my office wall and see it's out of date, time to get re-certified. This brings up a 4th reason:
4)being an example to others to get CPR certified

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I'm coming late to the conversation. Enough has been said about survival rate and motivation, etc. It's been a few days, and you're adjusting well. You're probably ready to hear a few things I've learned in my 6 years as a volunteer EMT...

You didn't create the problem.
Remember it's not your emergency, it's the patient's.
You don't really save a life. You just prolong the inevitable.
If someone dies from electrical shock, Hazardous chemicals, or other on scene dangers, it shouldn't be you.
If a patient vomits, aim it at the bystanders who wouldn't back up.

I've seen some pretty rough stuff, and I've worked people that I know including kids. You have to be just a little crazy to really handle this kind of stuff. It's the sane normal people who have a hard time with it. We rely on each other a lot, and we rely on a lot of good humor.

My #1 rule... When talking with anyone on a scene, if it felt good saying it, it was the wrong thing to say.

For those of you who do this for a living you'll really appreciate this link... http://www.emtlife.com/archive/index.php/t-89.html That's where I got the stuff from above. I picked out the stuff that I've come to really appreciate personally.

 

[Nissan197]

Good job for stepping in. You will always remember the incident. The first time I gave CPR was in 1998 to a 36 year old with his teenage son standing next to him when he collapsed. I was giving compressions when he vomited all over my arm. He did not make it. Whenever I pass that house I still remember it, just like it was yesterday.

 

[Smallplot]

First one, I am sure the family that lost a loved one will remember you, a stranger, trying your best to help for a long time. Your act of kindness is one which a lot of people should learn from.

And from what you described, an AED would probably not been much help. Your quick actions were his best chance. I know from experience, it seems like you are giving CPR for ever before help arrives and the kind of thoughts which go through your mind. I think thoughts like them clear our minds of what our eyes are seeing so the brain can continue making our hands do what we were trained.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your son also. Keep in mind, God must have had a special reason to call both of them home.