Originally Posted by
Bertie Thruster
Isn't the most recent protocol for CPR just chest compressions only?
Just caught up on this rapidly expanding thread. Don't you guys ever sleep?? Just to clarify the new UK Resuscitation guidelines (taught on all new FA courses) still require lung inflations (ratio of 2 inflations to 30 chest compressions). However, it was recognised in drawing up the new guidelines that chest compressions were
comparitively more important - compressing the chest to squirt the blood round the body also squashes the lungs to a certain extent and they partially reinflate between compressions, although of course this isn't as effective as proper rescue breathing. It was also noted that people who were reluctant to do mouth to mouth for whatever reason then tended to do nothing at all. Now more emphasis is put on "even if you don't do the inflations, do the compressions". Incidentally, likelihood of bringing back a heart attack casualty with CPR alone is approximately zero. Paramedic help is required, despite the rubbish suggesting otherwise frequently shown on TV. And on that cheerful note......