Have you ever watched a Hollywood movie, where a protagonist appears as a life savior during a stressful time and miraculously saves some lives with CPR or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation?
Dramatic chest compression, adrenaline-fueled music, and heroically simplified CPR movies lead to a lot of illusions about CPR. I also used to think CPR was nothing complicated and I could easily save lives because I had learned from the top guns. Imagine my shock after knowing what CPR entails. I know you have the same misconception if you are still unaware of all those glorified myths about CPR. In this blog, we will try to clear all the common myths about CPR. So before you start looking for “CPR classes near me,” let’s talk about the myths.
Myth 1: CPR Can save Life Immediately
The Hollywood Effect
CPR frequently performs flawlessly in movies; the victim regains consciousness while coughing and gasping for air after a few compressions and sometimes a rescue breath or two. The audience is given the impression that CPR nearly always successfully and swiftly revives victims.
The Reality
There is no doubt that CPR saves a life, but it is not that easy, and the success rate is not that high as well. In the case of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the success rate is around 10 to 20%. Many other factors play a vital role, such as the response time, severity of the attack, and so on.
Keeping oxygen flowing through the body until advanced medical assistance arrives is the goal of performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR for healthcare professionals. CPR frequently doesn’t “wake up” the victim right once; instead, it keeps the blood flowing until more conclusive medical care can be given, preventing brain damage and other organ ailments.
Why Do You Need The Clear Understanding?
If you start believing the movie, then you will give up performing CPR if you notice the victim is not “waking up” just like on movies. In reality, it needs to be performed for several minutes. You cannot learn CPR from movies, you need proper training. Look for CPR certification online, or CPR for healthcare providers and get trained if you really want to help someone.
Myth 2: CPR is Nothing But Chest Compressions
The Hollywood Misconception
Chest compressions during CPR are the sole topic of many films. It’s commonly believed that compressions are sufficient to save a life on their own and that anyone can do the procedure successfully without any special training.
The Reality
Yes, chest compressions are vital, however, CPR often involves both rescue breaths and chest compressions. The entire thing depends on the patient’s condition. The CPR giver needs to place their hand in the right position, and maintain the right depth and rhythm, to make it an effective CPR. Apart from that there are different methods to give CPR depending on the patient’s age. The infant’s CPR method is different than that of elderly people. You need guided training from an accredited American Heart Association Basic Life Support center.
Taking a class from a reliable first response center, whether it’s an online or in-person CPR certification course, guarantees that people fully understand these tactics. Trained persons are better ready to manage various emergencies effectively. Look for a local center using the location name, for example, “CPR classes Columbus Ohio,” and start your training.
Myth 3: Only Professionals Need CPR Training
The Hollywood Misconception
According to the movies, only healthcare professionals- paramedics, nurses, and doctors are eligible to perform CPR.
The Reality
CPR is a skill that everybody should learn to strengthen society. Waiting for first responders to arrive can be fatal for the patient. The more common people know this skill the more lives can be saved. Since the majority of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home, friends, family, and coworkers are frequently the first to show up. The ultimate objective of CPR certification programs is to provide regular people with the expertise and skills they need to change the world.
Why Does It Matter?
Well, this particular misconception is harmful to society if you think deeply. It discourages general people to go and look for CPR training. If you are someone from a remote area, then it is normal that the paramedics will take some time to reach your location, and every second counts when an emergency happens. So knowing CPR is invaluable in everyday life.
We contribute to creating a better knowledgeable and competent public that is prepared to act when it really matters by addressing the misconceptions that the movies have about CPR.
