New CPR guidelines issued for heart attacks

< Prev | 1 | 2

Currently, about 9 million Americans a year are trained in CPR, the heart association says, but it has a goal of more than doubling that number in the next five years to 20 million.

The new guidelines call for 911 operators to be trained to provide easy-to-follow CPR instructions by phone.

The heart association also offers new guidance to professionals, calling for cooling down cardiac arrest patients to about 90 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 24 hours. Two significant studies have shown that practice can improve survival and brain function for those who are comatose after initial resuscitation.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

There are a variety of methods — both internal and external — for cooling a person down, but the guidelines don’t recommend a specific approach.

The new guidelines also advise just one shock from a defibrillator before beginning chest compressions instead of giving up to three shocks first. Studies show that the first shock works more than 85 percent of the time.

Defibrillators have been popping up in public places like airports and businesses, but the heart association says that more public places need to install the devices. Survival rates have been as high as 49 percent to 74 percent for lay rescuer programs when defibrillators are placed in casinos, airports or used by police.

The new guidelines provide an opportunity for those who have taken CPR in the past to take a refresher course, said Dr. Ahamed Idris, professor of surgery and medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

“I think it’s a good idea for people to take CPR lessons at least every couple of years,” said Idris, also involved in creating the guidelines.

He led a study presented at the American Heart Association meeting earlier this month that showed CPR can be effectively taught in little more than 20 minutes. The study found that just five minutes of training on defibrillator use and 20 minutes of instruction in CPR was as effective as the standard four-hour course.

The AHA isn't requiring people who have previously completed CPR training to be re-certified, but is encouraging them to take an updated course. Materials with the new guidelines will be distributed to classes as early as January, according to a spokesperson for the AHA. People who take CPR training are required to be re-certified every two years.

< Prev | 1 | 2