What still has to be functioning for the best possible cpr or electro-whatever thingy to still have a chance of bringing you back? Or how far gone before it won’t work? I need to know in case I need to play dead for a while.
CPU rarely if ever brings anyone back. It’s to keep things semi-viable until real help (in the form of drugs, and shock paddles) arrives. Only in the case of electrocution or drowning does CPR by itself have a real chance of reviving anyone.
The general rule is that if you are without oxygen for for 3-5 minutes then you will have some brain damage. Beyond that and things get increasingly ragged.
Speaking strictly as a first responder, not a medical professional…
CPR is used to keep the blood and oxygen flowing until someone with better equipment arrives. The best bet to revive someone is with a defibrillator, but defibs only work if there is some electrical activity in the heart. CPR sometimes can bring someone back to a shockable rythmn. But not often. When the paramedics get there the drugs they can pump in can help (I won’t even get into what they do with the drill). But usually not. Mostly if your heart stops you’re toast. The sooner someone gets a defib on you the better. After just a couple of minutes it’s too late for most.
Please, get into what they do with the drill.
I think that there are rare circumstances where someone plunges head first into very cold water and it triggers a reflex that instantly slows body processes way down. If I have seen documented cases of this on TV shows a long time ago and people were resuscitated after a very long time in the water. I think some claimed it was 15 - 30 minutes but I don’t know if that is accurate.
This. The first time I saw it it freaked me out. Drilling into the tibia sounds about how you think it would.
Whoa. Awesome! They drill into your bone to give you drugs!
There have been cases of people being submerged in frigid water for over an hour and revived successfully, but you wouldn’t perform CPR on them. They would need to be warmed very carefully and gently in a hospital setting. The trauma CPR would probably eliminate any chance for a successful recovery.
Just did it Wednesday morning. We use these.
Defibrillation is the most important thing, but it won’t work without CPR first. The chances of survival without CPR decrease by 7-10% for every minute without CPR.
St. Urho
Paramedic
Thanks. Every minute after what, without CPR. Heart completely stopping?
You don’t do CPR unless the heart is stopped. Otherwise it would be assault.
(There can be heart activity which you could see on a monitor but no pulse can be felt.)
We’re just starting to get the IO drills (prehospital) out here. I have to say, it’s a disturbing sight to behold.
A few years ago, there was talk of doing IO’s into the sternum. Has that gone by the wayside, or is that still coming to a rescue near you (me)?
That’s mostly, but not entirely, true. In an infant or child with a heart rate less than 60, we’ll do CPR. For adults (in this case, anyone over 8), it is true.
I figure that if you’re getting an IO, it’s the least of your worries… There’s actually a video out there of one of the VidaCare reps drilling his own leg :eek: It really is a great tool, especially for people in or near to cardiac arrest. It’s tough to get an IV when someone’s circulatory system has collapsed and we can give fluids and any meds we can give IV through the IO.
Sternal IOs are out there, but they’re less popular than the tibial/humeral IOs. The FAST1.
Sorry, forgot to answer this. Yes. For every minute without a pulse.
Getting off my own topic, but doesn’t drilling into the leg hurt like hike and likely cuase some pretty severe shock itself? Or is it not really drilling (ala dentistry or drill and bit drilling).
I’ve never had one, and I hope I never do. That said, there’s not a lot of nerve endings in your bone itself. People who have had one and are conscious for it report feeling an uncomfortable pressure when fluids/meds are infused into the bone marrow rather than pain from the needle. The guy in the following video rates the pain at 2/10 and he watched the whole thing.
It’s actual drilling-watch here- Warning- Quick Time movie. It drills a hole through your bone to insert a 15 gauge metal catheter. There’s a metal stylet inside the catheter with the drill bit parts and to prevent the catheter from getting plugged with bone. Once it’s in you take out the stylet. We don’t actually aspirate like they do in the movie. After that, it works just like an IV.