# CPR: When should it be used? What is its primary objective? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 1, 2002, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpr-when-should-it-be-used-what-is-its-primary-objective/134792 "2002-11-01T03:16:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpr-when-should-it-be-used-what-is-its-primary-objective/134792/21 "2002-11-02T05:50:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by drpepper \* > \*\*I did find one site supporting the statistic of a 3% survival rate (even with CPR, I think the article implies). However discouraging that may be, it is worth noting that[this site](http://www.advanceforrcp.com/pastarticles/apr23_01feature4.html) mentions that survival rates drop 7 to 10% each minute CPR [and, in the interest of accuracy, defibrillation, says the article] is delayed. Just out of curiosity, was that a 3% survival rate for CPR only, or for CPR followed by ACLS? What I remember is that CPR alone had about a 3% survival rate and that CPR followed by prompt ACLS interventions had a survival rate of around 20%. My understanding has always been that the purpose of CPR was to keep the patient alive until ACLS was available. There’s nothing really CPR can do by itself to restart the heart. St. Urho EMT-B (ask me again in February when I’ve had ACLS) ---
**Author:** ![drpepper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@drpepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drpepper)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpr-when-should-it-be-used-what-is-its-primary-objective/134792/22 "2002-11-02T21:14:51Z")
> [@](#): > > Just out of curiosity, was that a 3% survival rate for CPR only, or for CPR followed by ACLS? Damn, can’t find the cite now, sorry **St. Urho**. But IIRC, it was from an article whose focus was the conclusions of researcher or doctor or something who basically said, “Sorry, in spite of what the media often leads people to believe, CPR, while worth doing, still only results in a 3% survival rate”. So it was referring to just the CPR. > [@](#): > > This is often the case, for example, with drowning victims: The lungs generally don’t actually fill with water, they close off so that they won’t fill with water. Your objective here is to get the lungs open and working again, after which the victim will generally recover on his or her own (but call the experts, anyway). Interesting point, and one that definitely was NOT specifically addressed in any of the classes I took [which were geared toward people supervising sporting events not associated with water in any way]; I’d wondered if drowning victims _typically_ had an arrested heartbeat in addition to the breathing issues. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpr-when-should-it-be-used-what-is-its-primary-objective/134792/23 "2002-11-02T23:00:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by drpepper \* > I’d wondered if drowning victims _typically_ had an arrested heartbeat in addition to the breathing issues. \*\* Yes, they do _typically_ have an arrested heartbeat as well. Works both ways, no breathing…heart stops. No Pulse, lungs stop. Only exceptions you are going to see is drownings in _very cold_ water where hypothermia slows down all of the metabolic processes surrounding hypoxia, etc. Of course you also need to fix the little hypothermia problem as well. Last time I checked this board was about fighting ignorance. What is is going to take to make this clear. **DrPepper** find a real CPR class, ignore this board. Go to class, pay attention, ask lots of questions. If they refuse to answer your questions insist on it. Since you don’t seem to read what I’m posting (or it isn’t sinking in) maybe a real instructor can get it through to you. IF not please let me know what level of medical practitioner you will believe and I will find you one. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpr-when-should-it-be-used-what-is-its-primary-objective/134792/24 "2002-11-02T23:27:27Z")
I have emailed **Quadgop the Mercotan** and **Dr\_Paprika** asking them to look at this thread. Both are MD’s and IIRC Quadgop works in an emergency specialty. I’m sure either of them can resove this question with some authority. ---
**Author:** ![drpepper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@drpepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drpepper)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpr-when-should-it-be-used-what-is-its-primary-objective/134792/25 "2002-11-03T01:06:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Since you don’t seem to read what I’m posting (or it isn’t sinking in) maybe a real instructor can get it through to you. > > IF not please let me know what level of medical practitioner you will believe and I will find you one. Not sure I understand, **drachillix** … what am I not reading? Taking in every word. 🙂 Thanks all for the responses. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpr-when-should-it-be-used-what-is-its-primary-objective/134792/26 "2002-11-03T02:00:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by drpepper \* > \*\*Not sure I understand, **drachillix** … what am I not reading? Taking in every word. 🙂 Thanks all for the responses. \*\* I was confused when you quoted **Chronos** concerning _typical_ drowning situations seemingly as an appropriate answer, right after I pointed out that Chronos is not very well versed in physiology or emergency medicine. The situation he referrs to _laryngospasm_(sp?) only last for a very short period. Once hypoxia sets in the muscles will relax a bit, and the water will flow in. This can and does happen in small children, they last a little longer because IIRC _mammalian dive reflex_ kicks in and slows the metabolism a bit to slow damage from low oxygen (I could be wrong on the details of dive reflex thats how it was expained to me). ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpr-when-should-it-be-used-what-is-its-primary-objective/134792/27 "2002-11-03T02:07:40Z")
Having read this thread, I’m not gonna try to answer all the variables raised here. Let me just say a few things. CPR is to be performed **only** on people who are unresponsive non-breathers without a pulse. Do _not_ do cardiac chest compressions (Heimlich maneuvers are another matter) on anyone who is a)responsive; b)breathing; or c)has a pulse. If they’re not breathing but have a pulse, clear the airway and do rescue breathing. If they’re breathing with a pulse and unresponsive, just activate the emergency medical system. CPR has a low success rate. This is expected. If you are starting CPR, the person is technically already dead. But the success rate for CPR is still higher than doing nothing for the person. CPR is a stop-gap measure to take while trying to get a defibrillator on the scene. Now that automatic external defibrillators (AED’s) are popping up in many public places, doing CPR on a person without a pulse is becoming even more life-saving than it was before. Always summon help first before starting CPR. If no rescue unit is summoned to provide advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), CPR is _almost_ always futile. Take an accredited course in CPR. The Red Cross, and the American Heart Association both offer good ones. CPR done perfectly still usually results in the patient remaining dead. And sometimes CPR done imperfectly saves a life, too. If you’re the only one in a crisis situation where CPR is called for, go ahead and try your best. You won’t make them more dead, and your efforts, no matter how hesitant, _could_ be successful. Hope that helps a little. QtM, MD ACLS certified since 1983 (back when it took weeks of work to actually pass the damn course, grumble grumble :D) who has run enough codes in his day to actually see some wonderful outcomes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpr-when-should-it-be-used-what-is-its-primary-objective/134792.md?page=1)