When a person needs CPR or
cardiopulmonary resuscitation, this means that he/she is unconscious, not
moving and not breathing normally. If this is the case, the person is
presumably in cardiac arrest or in a state that justifies cardiopulmonary
resuscitation.
- If the person is awake, is breathing normally and
therefore does not appear to need CPR, it would be correct that chest
compressions and CPR may complicate the already damaged chest and further
complicate the victim’s injuries.
- As soon as the victim becomes unconscious, is not
breathing normally and now appears to need CPR, Emergency Services should
be contacted and CPR should be initiated regardless of the injuries of the
patient.
- If the person needs CPR, this means that they are
clinically dead. If the victim does not receive CPR, they will simply
graduate to permanent death.
- This is why, regardless of the chest injury, if the
person is "dead" or in need of CPR, compressions are to be given
per the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines even if the
complications could include those of punctured lungs, lacerated organs or
bruised/punctured heart muscle. These injuries must be recorded in the clinical
sheet.
- This would be based on the theory that a person in need
of CPR is already dead and will not be harmed more even if there are
negative side effects from providing chest compressions. If a person
remains dead, surgery is not an option but if the person is resuscitated
with CPR, and alive at the hospital, we have an opportunity to fix the
injuries that may have been aggravated by doing CPR.
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