Our culture puts high value on expertise. I do, too. Recently, I had a 220 line installed in my garage so I could charge my hybrid Jeep. I know as much as the guy in this video, so I hired a real electrician.
Expertise Matters, but Isn’t Always Critical
I’m part of a group of cardiac arrest survivors called Heart Warrior Project. The group hosted a meetup where a guest cardiologist shared that we don’t need a few people to be perfect at CPR, but the whole population “needs to be a little bit good” at it. Then more people would survive cardiac arrest.
How many compressions are needed per minute? How deep do you press? Where exactly is the sternum, and can you break it? Not knowing the answers to these questions makes people afraid to give CPR to someone on the brink of death. I had cardiac arrest, so I care about saving people. I still get confused.
Barriers to Saving a Life
Expertise does matter, but it matters less when it comes to bystander CPR. In the US, if you want to learn how to save a life, no worries. We teach that to all middle-school students, and hope 12-year-olds are focused enough that day to remember. If you need to learn as an adult because you didn’t pay attention when you were 12, you have to dig to find a course and pay for it.
The course would cost you anywhere from $24 to $400, depending on whether you take an in-person class, an online course, or order materials to use at your own pace. When it comes to saving a life, $24 is nothing, but the cost and inconvenience are real barriers to many people. If you visit the American Heart Association website to find a class, it seems easy enough to find one, except it’s actually confusing. Maybe it’s just me and my brain, but I don’t think so. I visited Find a Class. It seemed clear, but then it got complicated. All kinds of courses are available, but signing up? You can “request information” and it leads to many more clicks that made me give up.
That’s the point a cardiologist made. Apparently in the UK, cardiac arrest survival rates are much lower than in the US because they don’t even teach it in every school. Taking CPR classes there costs even more. Why? It’s a business, and there is profit to be made.
So you know, I’m not suggesting ignorance over education, or that you wing it when it comes to saving a life.
The moment someone near you has cardiac arrest, call 911 first, then start CPR. Survival chances decrease by 10% for every minute that immediate CPR and use of an AED is delayed. Immediate CPR can triple the chance of survival.
Something is Better Than Nothing
You know what you will never hear? “This person might have survived if the bystander did a better job at CPR.” Never. During cardiac arrest, some action is better than no action. At the least, you may be the difference between anoxic brain injury and hypoxic brain injury.
I’ve shared what life is like after surviving anoxic brain injury. I went 11 minutes without breathing. That’s anoxia, or no oxygen to the brain. You know what’s slightly less severe? Hypoxia—not enough oxygen to the brain.
Not Enough is Better Than None
The moment I had cardiac arrest, Lisa started CPR, and called 911 in the process. It’s standard, but they instructed her to run downstairs, unlock the front door, and turn on the outside and inside house lights. Those would be added signals for the police. Then, she was asked to put our dog in the basement to avoid interfering with paramedics. I suffered anoxia during those moments. It can’t be avoided.
It wasn’t enough oxygen to get me breathing, but it was enough to lessen the impact of brain damage.
When Lisa returned, she restarted CPR. When the police officer arrived, he took over. Eventually, paramedics performed CPR. From start to finish, I went 11 minutes without breathing. Those chest compressions by multiple people pushed me from anoxia to hypoxia. It wasn’t enough oxygen to get me breathing, but it was enough to lessen the impact of brain damage. That’s why I can write this. It’s a much greater effort than it used to be. As my doctors have said, it’s miraculous that I drive myself to appointments, feed myself, and don’t wear a diaper.
Thanks, Lisa. Thanks, officer. Thanks, paramedics.
I’m not the expert, but the Red Cross offers basic CPR info you can read as a start. Or, watch their quick video:
No one wakes up expecting to give CPR to someone. Most people aren’t fully prepared. Willingness to step in can save someone’s life.
All you need to be is a little bit good.
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