Why Parents Should Learn CPR

CPR Resources

CPR Resources

why-parents-should-learn-cpr

CPR methods of administration differ significantly between infant, child, and adult populations

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. While that may sound like something better left to medical professionals, it is absolutely a skill recommended for parents and caregivers.

In 2019, Cardio Partners, a leader in CPR technologies such as the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), published an article with the following alarming statistics:

  1. Every minute that passes without CPR, a person’s chances of survival decrease by 10%.
  2. Brain damage begins to occur at 4 minutes without CPR or defibrillation.
  3. EMT response times are typically 12-14 minutes. .

The key to effective CPR administration is timeliness. Parents and caregivers should not rely solely on emergency medical professionals to administer CPR and first aid.

Current CPR Status Among Australian Adults

In a national study published by Cartledge, et al. in 2020, it was determined that 56% of Australian adults reported having ever received CPR training. Of those people, only 22% had received training in the past year. Given what we know about survival rates when CPR is delayed, we must increase our training rates among Australian adults to promote public health.

The most significant barriers to receiving CPR training outlined in the study above were a lack of awareness that training programs exist, not knowing where to go for training, and cost.

At Australia Wide First Aid we are working to provide CPR training to as many individuals as possible at an affordable cost. You can learn more about our CPR programs here.

Why CPR is Important for Parents

A common misconception about CPR is that it is only for someone suffering from a heart attack. Parents may think it unlikely that their child suffers a heart attack, so it is unnecessary to learn CPR. However, CPR should be administered any time there is a loss of effective heart function or breathing. This may occur during drowning incidents, after seizure activity, after a traumatic fall, an unresolved choking incident, or any loss of consciousness or breathing. Children are particularly susceptible to drowning and choking incidents. It is in a parent’s best interest to be prepared in case CPR is required.

Additionally, CPR training for children and infants differs significantly from adult training. The approach to chest compressions and AED placement is different between children and infants. An adult should not assume that because they know how to perform CPR on adults, they are competent to perform CPR on children and infants.

What Happens During CPR?

CPR is a way to maintain blood flow and oxygen to vital organs when the heart is no longer able to act efficiently as a pump.

Chest compressions refer to the applied force of your hands into the chest wall to pump blood out of the heart. The release of the force allows the heart to refill. CPR is a manual pump action for a heart that is unable to perform.

The administration of rescue breaths during CPR fills the lungs with oxygen in cases where a person is unable to fill the lungs by breathing on his own. Rescue breaths are considered secondary in line of importance during CPR, so compressions should always be started first. In cases where a rescuer feels uncomfortable providing rescue breaths, they can choose to only provide chest compressions as those are the most important part of successful CPR.

Group of people learning how to make first aid heart compressions with dummies during the training indoors

CPR methods of administration differ significantly between infant, child, and adult populations

How to Start and Maintain Your CPR Training

If you think you might be interested in learning how to provide CPR but aren’t sure where to begin, you can start by lowering your pressure threshold. Administering CPR is as much about having the confidence to act in an emergency as it is about knowing the proper protocols and methods. The fact that you want to know how to help someone will take you far.

When you are ready to look for a specific course, check out our Australia Wide First Aid course list to determine the best option for you. We offer CPR training, First Aid training (which includes CPR certification in addition to training on how to handle common injuries and ailments), and Child Care CPR training which is specifically designed for staff in the education and childcare fields.

CPR training is not able to be completed online as it requires a return demonstration of techniques on a manikin. However, Australia Wide First Aid offers a combined online learning tool with an in-person assessment check-off.

CPR training can be completed in less than 1 day.

We recommend receiving CPR training once a year to maintain optimal levels of confidence, knowledge, and skill sets.

Check out our courses today. You won’t regret being prepared during an emergency.

Sources

https://www.aed.com/blog/immediately-performing-cpr-is-crucial-this-is-why/

Cartledge S, Saxton D, Finn J, Bray JE. Australia's awareness of cardiac arrest and rates of CPR training: results from the Heart Foundation's HeartWatch survey. BMJ Open. 2020 Jan 6;10(1):e033722. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033722. PMID: 31911523; PMCID: PMC6955479. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6955479/

Originally published at https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/resources/why-parents-should-learn-cpr
as part of the Australia Wide First Aid Articles Library

Related Articles

CPR posture article header
CPR Posture

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a critical lifesaving skill that can significantly improve the chances of survival for individuals experiencing cardiac arrest. While many people are trained in CPR techniques, the importance of proper posture during CPR cannot be overstated.

Wheelchair CPR article header
CPR for Persons in Wheelchairs

Despite its apparent simplicity, bystanders often delay providing CPR to people with special conditions such as those in wheelchairs. This delayed response may be due to a lack of knowledge on what to do in such situations or the perceived complexity of the procedure due to the casualty's condition. However, the CPR principle remains the same for all casualties, whether they are in wheelchairs or not.

Spooky CPR Article Header
Halloween Style CPR Instructions

In this spine-tingling journey of resuscitation, maintain your grim composure, for you tread the precipice between the realms of life and death. Whether you are a mere mortal or a master of the macabre arts, remember that your actions can either prolong existence or plunge it further into the abyss. Proceed with a sense of dread, for you stand at the precipice of despair.

A man giving CPR to an unconscious female swimmer
Learn CPR in a Snap!

Knowing how to perform basic first aid and CPR is essential to be prepared for any emergency situation. Taking the time to learn the basics of CPR and first aid can save a life. This article will provide safety tips for every situation, prepare you for emergencies, and explain the basic first aid and CPR basics. It will also explain why taking a first aid course is essential for knowing how to save lives.

why-and-when-to-use-a-defibrillator
Your Guide to Using a Defibrillator

When someone is in cardiac arrest, a defibrillator is used to kick start the heart again or regulate abnormal heartrate. It is important to know when and how to use a defibrillator, as they can greatly increase a person's chances of survival.

CPR illustration
How to Learn CPR

CPR provides the patient with life-giving oxygen until they can receive full medical treatment. It buys time in these emergency situations and is used when a person is oxygen-deprived, commonly because of near drowning, cardiac arrest, and drug overdose.

How to perform CPR Adults and Older Children
How CPR is performed on adults & older children

See how CPR is done on an adult or older child (over 8 years old) in this guide. You can also go to specific guides on CPR for children, infants, and during pregnancy. If you’re in an emergency, call 000.

chimpanzee seated in zoo enclosure
5 Lives Changed by CPR

Browsing news stories related to CPR reveals people from around the world, calling on their knowledge of first aid to resuscitate another person in need.

Cutaway diagram showing chest under CPR compressions
What is Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation?

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation – CPR, for short – is a game-changer when a person's heart has stopped beating. Despite its effectiveness, the technique itself is relatively simple.

How to perform CPR Pregnancy
How CPR is performed on a pregnant person

See how to perform CPR on someone pregnant in this guide. You can also go to specific guides on CPR for adults, children and infants. If you’re in an emergency, call (000).