All children to learn CPR and basic first aid in u.k schools

Doc here! I've seen a lot of comments expressing confusion over CPR. The 3 most important things that saves lives with bystander CPR, in my experience, are as follows:

  1. Early CPR. Someone's gone down and you didn't feel a pulse? Start compressions ASAP. Seconds, minutes count big time because if they don't have a pulse, the brain isn't getting oxygen, so even if you do get them back you're looking at major brain injury that may take a long time to recover from, if they ever do.

  2. Effective compressions. Don't worry a bunch about the ratio of compressions to breaths, the compressions are MUCH more important because guess what... Good compressions also move air in and out of the lungs! No breaths but good compressions is much better than the opposite. If you can give breaths, go for it, just remember which is more important. How do you know for sure if your compressions are good? Breaking ribs is a sign, but basically moving the chest a couple inches down, and then giving the chest time to bounce back, is what you should aim for. Rhythm is about the same beat as "staying alive" so hum that in your head to keep the pace. It's honestly a little slower than the pace I usually see bystanders use. Most people get fairly winded with effective CPR as well.

  3. Minimize breaks between CPR. In the hospital when someone needs CPR we do compressions during everything except shocking and rhythm/pulse checks. IE, when the AED is charging? Keep compressions going. As soon as it shocks? Start compressions after a very quick pulse check (carotid artery is the best place to feel). More than 10 seconds between compressions is too long.

And finally, don't blame yourself if it doesn't work and they don't make it. You did your best and there are plenty of times when we can't get people back even in the hospital with all our fancy equipment and medicine. That's how these things go. It's not like on TV at all.

/r/worldnews Thread Link - news.sky.com