Common CPR Training Errors: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a first aid rescue procedure given to victims of cardiac arrest and other injuries to save their lives. In essence, this technique triggers the blood flow into the brain and body, which slows down the rate of brain damage.
Performing CPR help restores the breathing functions and ensures that the person has enough oxygen to supply to the brain and other organs to avoid shutting down.
With such importance, there should be no room for errors when doing this procedure. However, it can be too easy to make mistakes in doing the steps, even during CPR training.
In this article, we will mention some incorrect actions to keep an eye and ear for during CPR training.
5 CPR Training Errors
Error 1: Bending Your Elbows When Performing CPR
Avoid bending your elbows when performing CPR, as you will only waste your precious energy. Administering hands-only CPR can be exhausting for the arm muscle.
Keep your arms straight throughout the duration to avoid sore muscles and wasting your energy doing with the wrong formation. Engage your back and shoulder muscles and leverage your body weight.
In doing so, you will recruit more body muscles, improving your ability to perform chest compressions correctly. Keeping arms straight also helps improve endurance.
Error 2: Rocking Back And Forth Between Compressions
People who commit this mistake are called the “rockers.” Rocking back and forth between chest compressions is less effective and more tiresome.
In formal CPR training, the instructor will allow you to practice the correct position on a specially designed manikin. This helps you prevent rocking back and forth and conserve energy when performing hands-only CPR.
Error 3: Compressions Not Having Enough Pressure
The force of compression is mostly driven through the heel of the hand. “Massagers” is the type of responders who do not press hard enough for the compressions to be effective.
Massagers usually point their fingers down, which is another hand error in CPR. This position tends to produce more massaging action and less compression.
To be effective, the fingers need to be interlaced with one another, or one hand is on top of the other with fingers extended off the person’s chest.
Error 4: Leaning While Giving CPR
Some rescuers tend to lean on the person’s chest a bit in between compression, especially if the procedure takes time and fatigue is kicking in.
Leaning or keeping a little pressure on the chest in between compressions will significantly reduce the effectiveness of CPR. Remember that full chest recoil is vital as each compression’s depth and rate. It is important to stray as crisp and technically accurate as possible.
Error 5: Unable To Stay On The Beat
Being a lousy dancer or staying off the beat is another error in performing CPR.
Stay on the beat for at least 100 compressions per minute and follow the rhythm of ever famous Stayin’ Alive from the Bee Gee’s when doing CPR.
Studies have shown that compression rates of over 120 beats per minute are the ideal timing for CPR, as it does not give the heart time to refill passively between each compression.
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The First Aid Course Canberra is committed to providing affordable, quality CPR classes in Canberra and other locations across Australia. We pride ourselves as one of the trusted and nationally recognised first aid training providers that can tailor courses designed to fit your personal and professional needs.
Call us today on (08) 7120 2570 to book your CPR class and become qualified to save lives in just four hours.