6 Common CPR Myths Debunked: What You Need to Know to Save Lives

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6 Common CPR Myths Debunked What You Need to
Know to Save Lives
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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a
lifesaving technique that can make all the
difference in an emergency situation.
Unfortunately, there are many myths surrounding
CPR that can prevent people from taking action
when it matters most. In this article, we'll
debunk six common CPR myths and provide you with
the information you need to know to save
lives. Myth 1 CPR always works One of the most
common myths about CPR is that it always works.
While CPR can be highly effective in saving
lives, it doesn't always succeed. In fact,
studies have shown that the survival rate for
out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is only around
10. However, performing CPR can still increase
the chances of survival, even if it doesn't
always work.
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Myth 2 You can cause harm by performing CPR on
someone who doesn't need it Another common myth
is that performing CPR on someone who doesn't
need it can cause harm. However, research has
shown that the risks of performing CPR on someone
who doesn't need it are very low, especially
compared to the potential benefits of performing
CPR on someone who does need it. Myth 3 CPR
always requires mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
Another common myth is that CPR always requires
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. While this was once
the case, current guidelines recommend hands-only
CPR for most situations. In fact, hands-only CPR
has been shown to be just as effective as
traditional CPR for cardiac arrest caused by a
heart attack.
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Myth 4 CPR can restart a stopped heart Contrary
to popular belief, CPR doesn't actually restart a
stopped heart. Instead, it helps to circulate
blood and oxygen throughout the body until
medical help arrives. CPR can keep a person's
vital organs alive until medical personnel can
take over and attempt to restart the heart using
advanced techniques. Myth 5 You should wait
for an ambulance to arrive before starting CPR
Another common myth is that you should wait for
an ambulance to arrive before starting CPR.
However, time is of the essence when it comes to
cardiac arrest, and the sooner CPR is started,
the better the chances of survival. If you
witness someone collapse or find someone
unresponsive, call 911 and start CPR
immediately.
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Myth 6 You need to be certified to perform CPR
While it's always a good idea to receive CPR
training and certification, you don't need to be
certified to perform CPR in an emergency
situation. In fact, the American Heart
Association recommends that everyone learn the
basic skills of hands-only CPR, which can be
performed without certification. In conclusion,
knowing the facts about CPR can make all the
difference in an emergency situation. Don't let
these common CPR myths prevent you from taking
action when someone's life is on the line.
Remember to call 911 and start performing
hands-only CPR as soon as possible. By doing so,
you can help increase the chances of survival and
save lives.
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• Consolidated References
• American Heart Association. (2021). Hands-Only
  CPR. Retrieved from https//www.heart.org/en/cpr-c
  ourses/hands-only-cpr
• Berdowski, J., Berg, R. A., Tijssen, J. G.,
  Koster, R. W. (2010). Global incidences of
  out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and survival
  rates Systematic review of 67 prospective
  studies. Resuscitation, 81(11), 1479-1487.
• Bhanji, F., Donoghue, A. J., Wolff, M. S.,
  Flores, G. E., Halamek, L. P., Berman, J.