If you have received CPR training, you may wonder how you will know if or when your training will be necessary. Consider this scenario: you are walking around in an Austin park, and you encounter a person lying on the path. Do they need CPR? How can you know for sure?
Know the Signs
Finding a person that is lying on the ground lifeless may seem like a good sign that CPR is needed. However, it may not always be the right response. Certain medical issues may cause a person to become unconscious, but they don’t necessarily need CPR.
You need to ascertain two key vitals: pulse and breath. Does the person have a pulse? Is the person breathing? A yes to either or both of those questions typically means the person does not currently need CPR. However, something is clearly wrong and medical attention should be called for.
Warning Signs
There are a few warning signs that you should be on the lookout for. These signs may mean that a person needs immediate CPR or may need CPR in the following moments:
- Collapse: If you see a person suddenly collapse, you need to check for a pulse and see if they are breathing.
- Unconsciousness: If you come upon a person that cannot be waked, you need to check for a pulse and see if they are breathing.
- Electrocution: If you see someone gets shocked or electrocuted, do not touch that person. Electric current can pass through them and into you.
- Drowning: If a person is pulled from the water, you need to check for a pulse and to see if they are breathing.
All of these instances should warrant a call to 911, even if the person is breathing and has a pulse.
Beware Of False Emergencies
While we would never want to discourage you from helping a person in need, we do want to encourage you to be wary. There have been instances where someone wishing to do another person harm have used false medical emergencies to lure a victim away from safety. Use your best judgment when approaching a stranger that appears to need medical help.
If you would like to learn more about first aid and CPR, contact us at Heart Smart CPR. We have instructors that have been certified by the American Heart Association, and they are ready to help you learn!
