CPR Saves Many Lives, But
Not Enough
Medical News Today
May 1st, 2005
Studies show that when cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR) is done right away - and correctly - it saves
lives. However, the chances of that happening aren't
very good, reports the May issue of the Harvard Health
Letter. Some studies have found that as few as 1 in
20 people who have a cardiac arrest outside of the
hospital survive, even with CPR. And even health professionals
often don't perform the procedure correctly.
The advent of the automated external defibrillator
(AED) has added another wrinkle. An AED analyzes the
activity of the heart. If it has developed a lethal
rhythm or is not beating at all, the machine delivers
an electric shock to jolt it back to normal. AEDs
can be bought without a prescription for about $1,500.
“The AED presents a tough choice,” says
the Health Letter. “It's theoretically better
than CPR because it can restart the heart, whereas
CPR is merely a stopgap.” One study found that
a defibrillator-CPR combination improved the survival
rate over CPR alone (23% versus 14%). But if you run
around looking for an AED while neglecting CPR, you
could lose lifesaving minutes.
The financial value of a home AED is debatable. You're
plunking down $1,500 on the guess that (a) someone
will have a cardiac arrest at home and (b) someone
else will be there to use the machine. If you do decide
to buy an AED, the Harvard Health Letter advises that
you be sure you know how to use the machine and where
it is stored. You don't want to be fumbling around
in case of an emergency. |
