Heart Association Issues New Guidelines For CPR
DALLAS (AP / CBS 2) - The American Heart Association has issued new guidelines when it comes to administering CPR.
Rescuers are now being urged to start with hard, fast chest compressions before giving mouth-to-mouth.
The change ditches the old "ABC'' approach - "A'' for airway, "B'' for breathing, "C'' for compressions. That called for rescuers to give two breaths first, then alternate with 30 presses.
Under the revised guidelines, rescuers using traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation should start chest compressions immediately - 30 chest presses, then two breaths. The change applies to adults and children, but not newborns.
The revamped guidelines also say rescuers should be pushing deeper, at least 2 inches in adults. Rescuers should pump the chest of the victim at a rate of at least 100 compressions a minute. Some say a good guide is the beat of the old disco song "Stayin' Alive."
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
