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Update Date: 2010/07/29 13:42 (Reuters Boston 28th)
Two studies released today suggest that mouth-to-mouth resuscitation may be unnecessary and could reduce survival rates when someone suddenly collapses. Performing chest compressions alone may be sufficient for emergency aid.
The findings further support the idea that simpler methods yield the best results when administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Thomas Rea, program director of emergency medical services in King County, Washington, stated in a phone call, "Compression-only is at least as good, at least as helpful." He is the lead author of one of the studies.
Leif Svensson from the Prehospital Center in Stockholm, Sweden, and his colleagues also published research today, stating, "Overall, this study further supports the hypothesis that compression-only CPR should be considered the preferred method for bystanders to perform on patients experiencing cardiac arrest."
Both reports were published in the *New England Journal of Medicine*.
In the past, the common practice was to administer two breaths followed by 15 chest compressions. In 2005, this was revised to 30 compressions followed by two breaths. However, animal studies have shown that chest compressions alone may be just as effective, possibly because rescuers continuously compress the patient's heart without pausing to deliver breaths.
The Swedish research team emphasized that their findings do not apply to cardiac arrests caused by trauma, poisoning, respiratory failure, or children under the age of eight. Central News Agency (Translation)
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 100729/ 16/ 2a4fe. html
CPR without Mouth-to-Mouth: Chest Compressions Only
Two studies released today suggest that mouth-to-mouth resuscitation may be unnecessary and could reduce survival rates when someone suddenly collapses. Performing chest compressions alone may be sufficient for emergency aid.
The findings further support the idea that simpler methods yield the best results when administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Thomas Rea, program director of emergency medical services in King County, Washington, stated in a phone call, "Compression-only is at least as good, at least as helpful." He is the lead author of one of the studies.
Leif Svensson from the Prehospital Center in Stockholm, Sweden, and his colleagues also published research today, stating, "Overall, this study further supports the hypothesis that compression-only CPR should be considered the preferred method for bystanders to perform on patients experiencing cardiac arrest."
Both reports were published in the *New England Journal of Medicine*.
In the past, the common practice was to administer two breaths followed by 15 chest compressions. In 2005, this was revised to 30 compressions followed by two breaths. However, animal studies have shown that chest compressions alone may be just as effective, possibly because rescuers continuously compress the patient's heart without pausing to deliver breaths.
The Swedish research team emphasized that their findings do not apply to cardiac arrests caused by trauma, poisoning, respiratory failure, or children under the age of eight. Central News Agency (Translation)
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 100729/ 16/ 2a4fe. html