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Hands-only CPR gets a recommendation

Emergency Management Alert, April 8, 2008

In a move that may make it more likely that bystanders will jump in to help in an emergency, the American Heart Association now says hands-only CPR--without mouth-to-mouth breathing--works just as well as standard CPR for sudden cardiac arrest in adults.

In a major change, the Heart Association said this week that chest compressions alone can help save a heart attack victim's life, reported the Associated Press (AP). Experts hope people may be more willing to perform hands-only CPR since it is simpler and removes the barrier for those fearful of performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a stranger.
One physician told the AP that anonymous surveys show that people are reluctant to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation partly because of the fear of infections.

The Heart Association says to call 911 and perform rapid, deep chest presses, about 100 per minute, until parademics take over or an automated external defibrillator can restore a normal heart rhythm. The action is recommended only for adults who unexpectedly collapse, stop breathing, and are unresponsive since cardiac arrest is the likely cause. A child who collapses is more likely to primarily have breathing problems and rescuers should use mouth-to-mouth breathing.

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