Readers Respond: Reader Tips and Tricks for Better CPR

Bear in mind these are tips from other readers just like you. About.com makes no claims about the effectiveness of any of these suggestions and recommends you follow current CPR guidelines whenever possible.

Vomit

One thing I've heard that never gets mentioned in CPR classes is that a patient is as likely as not to throw up during resusitation. Gotta be ready to clear the airway. Also, a reason to wear the vinyl glove that come with most resusitation masks...

—Guest First Aider

CPR Instructor, ASHI MEDIC

A small but important technique to remember is about body posture during CPR. If you pull a muscle, who's going to perform CPR? To prevent: Be sure your knees are up close to the victim and center your body over him/her. Lock your elbows. Push with your whole upper body, not your arms. This will also help preserve your energy.

—Guest Cindy Hailey

Don't Be Left Alone...or without power!

There have been cases in which the person sent to call 911 and/or get an AED does not come back! My suggestion is to practice saying, "You! Call 911 and come back! You, get an AED and come back!" It is hard to believe people would do such a thing but, you can't fix stupid most of the time. I find it is better to give more directions and assume the person has no idea what to do than the reverse. Also, I have heard about cases in which the AED arrives and, in the heat of the moment, the responders forget to turn it on. Yikes!! (I can just see it, they know the step, ask for an AED, but actually using it, especially without sufficient practice, can be overwhelming or....perish the thought.....the value of the AED is not understood. I always mention these tidbits in my classes. I find these scenerios get the student's attention and, believe it or not, sometimes even gets them to critically think enough that the class gets excited and interested. Please share stories:)

—doctornursetobe

first responder

Be careful there are no spinal injuries when doing the head tilt chin lift

—Guest mark

Yes! Children can effectively do CPR.

I was able to effectively perform CPR on a friend in a near drowning event when I was 11 years old. She is still living a productive life. I am now a nurse so I must say the event influenced my life (almost) as much as it did hers. I definitely think most children are capable of learning and performing CPR on another child from about 8-10 years of age, depending on the maturity of the child. I taught my children at 8. If the child can accurately evaluate weather the victim is breathing or has a pulse .....and they don't; then he/she is already dead. There is no harm greater than the harm caused by death and who knows. They might just be the lucky one and save a life. I did.

—Guest Riesha

I'm learning

I'm learning how to do this in Health Education, and I'm only 15. It seems rather easy, but I can't imagine actually doing it in case of an emergency situation, I'd be rather nervous really. So far, I'm the best one in the class to practice all of the steps correctly, whether it be infant or adult CPR. :)

—Guest Pony

AED use for children

I tell my CPR classes in Tampa http://www.tccpr.org/blog that if they're confused with the shock settings on the AED, or can't find the child pads, it's acceptable to use an adult level shock on a child. However, they should never use an AED on an infant.

—TampaCertifiedCPR

You can't make them more dead

Remember, the person needing CPR is clinically dead as soon as the heart stops. You can't make them more dead then they already are. Anything you do for them is positive! I always tell my class that you can't kill a dead person. Do your best, take a CPR/First Aid class, pratice like it is the real thing and you will remember what to do when the time comes to use it. If you only activate 911, it is better than doing nothing! Read up on the good Samaritan law.

—Guest Ruth Martinuk

Elizabeth

Somehow "Stayin' Alive" has a more positive intent than "Another one bites the dust," given the circumstances!

—Addictions.Admin

Keeping a pace!

Counting your compressions helps you keep your rhythm. It also lets bystanders know that you're doing something important (as if your pushing on someone's chest wasn't enough of a hint). Don't be afraid to give bystanders jobs - including calling 911, counting your compressions, holding the airway open, crowd control, or getting an AED. The best thing you can do to prepare yourself as a responder is to take a CPR class - either from the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. Classes help you practice the skills you need to save a life.

—Guest ARC CPR Instructor

You won't get sued for attempting CPR

Many people are afraid of getting sued if they perform CPR incorrectly. However, since the 1985 Good Samaritan Act, there have been no recorded cases against a Good Samaritan. Don't be afraid to try to save a life in need of saving. You cannot hurt someone who is already in danger of dying.

—Guest ProCPR.org CPR Instructor

checked

I checked the three mentioned tunes ("staying alive", "another one bites the dust" and "I kissed a girl") using an online BPM-counter, and the first two seem pretty good matches (both are a little bit faster, maybe around 105 bpm). "I kissed a girl" seems to be closer to 120 BPM, which is a bit too fast.

—Guest CPR teacher

High School Health/CPR Educator

Unfortunately - "Another One Bites The Dust" by Queen also is a good teaching aide!

—Guest Health Teacher

Another Song

I am not sure about this, so nobody take my advice without verifying it, but I have heard numerous times that the song "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry is also very close to 100 beats per minute. Just be sure that the person you are assisting is not homophobic before you go singing it in their ear!

—Guest Danielle Mellis - Alberta, Canada