CPR: Forget what you know?
If you're a physical therapist you must be certified in CPR to earn your state license. But what kind of CPR do you know? Chances are it combines chest compressions to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, which has long been the gold standard. Results of a recent study may change your mind.
Researchers found that compression-only CPR leads to a higher survival rate versus the traditional version. The study examined 4, 415 adults who went into cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. Those who got hands-only CPR survived to hospital discharge at a rate of 13.3%. People who got chest and mouth-to-mouth had a survival rate of 7.8%. That's a big difference!
These results were based on CPR done by non-medical professionals, aka good Samaritans. But they beg the question: Should everyone be focusing on the "new" CPR? The American Heart Association will release its recommendations later this year so we'll wait and see.
Non physical-therapists, do you know how to perform CPR? It's a critical skill that not enough people know. Therapists, have you ever had to resuscitate a patient?