In one year alone, 436,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest.
Fortunately, though, those who suffer cardiac arrest at home get rescued by their loved ones. And most of these rescues happen thanks to Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Since it’s such a life-saving procedure, this leads to many people wanting to know the basics of CPR. They then want to know the best CPR certification courses to go through. But many also want to know common CPR performance errors and how to avoid them.
So if you’re interested in learning more about CPR mistakes and how to avoid them, then keep reading and we’ll walk you through what you need to know.
1. Forgetting to Call 911
One of the most common errors in CPR is forgetting to call 911. This is a critical mistake, as the assistance of EMS can save a life.
To avoid forgetting to call 911, you should always ensure that your cell phone is in a location that is easily accessible in an emergency.
2. Not Applying Ample Pressure
One of the most common CPR performance errors is not applying ample pressure during chest compressions. To be effective, chest compressions must be performed at least 2 inches deep and at a rate of 100-120 per minute.
Applying as much force as possible without going too deep or lifting off the chest completely between compressions is important. Techniques such as using the heel of the hand or both hands can help create solid chest compressions.
3. Bending the Fingers
Common CPR performance errors involve intricate details, such as not correctly bending the fingers or wrists.
This error occurs when the rescuer performs chest compressions with the wrong technique, such as when they position their hands too far away from the chest, strike the ribs too hard, or forget to straighten the fingers during the downward compression.
4. Crisscrossing Hands
One of the most common CPR performance errors is CPR hand placement, like crisscrossing the hands while performing chest compressions. This can make it difficult to achieve a good depth in the compressions and make it harder to get the chest to raise between compressions.
To avoid this mistake, you should have both hands placed at either side of the victim’s chest and press down with both your palms facing downwards with the heel of the hand over the lower half of the sternum.
5. Not Taking Adequate Safety Measures
Common CPR performance errors, such as not taking adequate safety measures, must be avoided to ensure the patient is given the best chance of survival.
Making sure that the scene is safe to perform CPR is essential as the patient and the bystanders/performers must not be put in any danger.
This includes ensuring that all other humans, animals, and objects have been removed from the room and that any sharp objects have been safely put away.
Getting to know these mistakes can help you get certified at cprcertificationnow.com. Start taking a CPR class and share your knowledge with everyone!
Explore the Common CPR Performance Errors
Overall, CPR is a crucial skill and can mean life and death. That said, common CPR performance errors could potentially interfere with performing CPR correctly.
Taking the time to understand potential pitfalls and learning how to avoid them can significantly impact improving performance. With this in mind, it is recommended that everyone take a certified CPR training course.
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