Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
LESSON 2: HEART ATTACK AND CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION
2-5
2-5. NEED FOR CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION
As stated previously, the blood supplies the cells of the body with oxygen. In a medical emergency, you must ensure that this supply of oxygen continues. The supply of oxygen to the body cells is threatened whenever the person stops breathing on his own or when the person's heart stops pumping blood. When the oxygen supply fails, cells begin to die. The length of time required for a cell to die after the oxygen supply has stopped depends upon several factors. One of the most important factors is the type of cell involved. Brain cells are the most sensitive. Permanent brain damage usually occurs if the oxygen supply is stopped for more than 6 minutes. Therefore, a casualty who has suffered a cardiac arrest must have breathing and circulation restored quickly if biological death is to be prevented. The process of restoring breathing is called rescue breathing. Artificial heartbeats are produced by administering chest compressions. In neither case, however, is the substitute measure as efficient as the body's natural process.
