Monday, January 28, 2019

Staying alive

WaPo article on a guy who saved a life performing CPR...


Cross Scott, a tire shop technician, was test driving a customer’s vehicle on Jan. 11 when he saw a peculiar thing: a sedan pulled over, its hazard lights blinking, according to the Arizona Daily Star. He got out to inspect the vehicle. There was a woman inside who appeared unconscious as the car crept forward, he told the newspaper. He stuck a rock under the wheel and used another to smash a window, and two women who pulled over dialed 911.
He checked for a pulse. Nothing. Help could be minutes away. He had to act. But there was one problem. “I’ve never prepared myself for CPR in my life,” Scott, 21, told the Star. “I had no idea what I was doing.” Well, that’s not entirely true. He had seen Season 5, episode 14 of “The Office.”




Chest compressions are if there is no pulse, but often the person will start breathing if you reposition their head so the tongue doesn't obstruct the airway.

And if that doesn't work, and they have a pulse, you might want to start them breathing. 

One wonders how many "fentanyl" overdoses would have lived if someone started Mouth to mouth on them when they stopped breathing. But then, usually they overdose with druggie friends, and druggies are not known for their ability to think straight.

IF there is no pulse and no breathing, and you are alone, just do chest compressions.
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and don't forget to call 911.

Mouth to mouth is a bit unpleasant of course but most of us don't carry ambu bags with us.

I once started CPR on a patient who wasn't breathing (but still with a heartbeat) and later found he had TB. Uh oh. No I didn't catch it from him.

However, if you don't have a pulse, just chest compression will work.

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