The Significance of Bystander CPR in Cardiac Arrest Situations

This report delves into the critical importance of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in cases of cardiac arrest. It highlights that cardiac arrest, which leads to ineffective blood circulation, can occur unexpectedly, emphasizing the necessity of immediate intervention. The report explains the process of bystander CPR, detailing how to position the patient and administer chest compressions. It underscores that bystander CPR can restore breathing and consciousness, potentially preventing permanent impairment or death, especially when emergency services are delayed. The report references studies that highlight the positive impact of bystander CPR on oxygen and blood flow to vital organs, reducing neurological damage and increasing the chances of survival. It also emphasizes the importance of early defibrillation and the need for CPR training and public awareness to increase survival rates and minimize long-term injuries. The conclusion stresses the need for increased education and government support to promote bystander CPR, ultimately aiming to reduce deaths and improve patient outcomes. The report references several studies to support its claims.

RUNNING HEAD: IMPORTANCE OF CPR
IMPORTANCE OF BYSTANDER CPR
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Importance of CPR 2
Importance of bystander CPR
Cardiac arrest- which leads to ineffective blood circulation- may occur anywhere at any
time. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation- compression of heart walls to allow respiration- assist in
curbing this defect. In a case where one is attacked and the emergency service official response
team is far, cardiopulmonary resuscitation can be done by a bystander. First the bystander should
lay the person on a firm surface on her back. Secondly, the bystander should kneel by the
person’s shoulder. He should then place his one hand on the chest then the other hand at the top
of the first one and proceed to compress until there are movement signs. CPR can also be done to
a person with heart attack or a person who is drowning. This paper focuses on the importance of
bystander CPR.
One of the importance of bystander CPR is that it enables one to regain breathing and
consciousness. Cardiac arrest may lead to permanent impairment or death. Therefore, it is
extremely important for bystanders to administer CPR to cardiac arrest patients immediately
(Adielsson, Hollenberg, Karlsson,, Lindqvist, Lundin, Silfverstolpe, & Herlitz, (2011)). Some
oxygen is left in the blood when cardiac arrest occurs therefore through CPR the oxygenated
blood flows to the brain supplying it with oxygen. Breathing can also be restored through mouth
to mouth resuscitation. By restoring breathing and consciousness, the patient is saved from
death.
According to Eisenberg, Bergner, & Hallstrom (2013) bystander CPR enhances flow of
oxygen and blood to vital organs such as heart and brain. When the brain is well and constantly
fed with oxygen by the blood, there are minimal chances of neurological damage. Normal
contraction of the heart has to be restored through early defibrillation by discontinuing

Importance of CPR 3
fibrillation of the heart failure to which the rhythm may deteriorate into asystole which brings
worse results.
Dowie, Campbell, Donohoe, & Clarke, (2010) reviews that bystander CPR increases
high chances of survival. The sooner the CPR is done the better the chances of survival. In
addition to that, CPR should be done correctly. Cardiac arrest inhibits breathing since it is a
sudden discontinuation of the heartbeat. If CPR is done immediately cardiac arrest occurs, the
breathing is regained. Therefore, the patient does not stay for a long time without breathing
which may lead to death.
Early CPR prevents severe injuries such as long-term brain injury. It also enables one to
have less time when healing the injuries. Moreover, it enables one to improve health wise
greatly. A person who survives without CPR performed on them has a long nursing period. This
person may also get severe long-term injuries. (Sasson, Magid, Chan, Root, McNally,
Kellermann, & Haukoos, 2012).
In conclusion, CPR becomes ineffective due to bystander inadequate knowledge about it.
Most people fear performing it. This is because they fear causing more damage. Therefore,
people should be educated on the importance of CPR. Healthcare organizations should focus on
sensitizing people about bystander CPR and its advantages. The government is also supposed to
support these organizations for better performance by providing facilities and funds to train
people. By doing this, many people will become aware of CPR which will lead to less deaths
caused by cardiac arrest. There will also be less impairments caused by Cardiac arrest and high
chances of survival as well as lesser nursing periods.

Importance of CPR 4
References
Adielsson, A., Hollenberg, J., Karlsson, T., Lindqvist, J., Lundin, S., Silfverstolpe, J., ... &
Herlitz, J. (2011). Increase in survival and bystander CPR in out-of-hospital shockable
arrhythmia: bystander CPR and female gender are predictors of improved outcome.
Experiences from Sweden in an 18-year perspective. Heart, 97(17), 1391-1396.
Axelsson, Å., Herlitz, J., Ekström, L., & Holmberg, S. (2009). Bystander-initiated
cardiopulmonary resuscitation out-of-hospital. A first description of the bystanders and
their experiences. Resuscitation, 33(1), 3-11.
Dowie, R., Campbell, H., Donohoe, R., & Clarke, P. (2010). ‘Event tree’analysis of out-of-
hospital cardiac arrest data: confirming the importance of bystander CPR. Resuscitation,
56(2), 173-181.
Eisenberg, M. S., Bergner, L., & Hallstrom, A. (2013). Cardiac resuscitation in the community.
Jama, 241(18), 1905-7.
Kanstad, B. K., Nilsen, S. A., & Fredriksen, K. C. P. R. (2011). CPR knowledge and attitude to
performing bystander CPR among secondary school students in Norway. Resuscitation,
82(8), 1053-1059.
Sasson, C., Magid, D. J., Chan, P., Root, E. D., McNally, B. F., Kellermann, A. L., & Haukoos,
J. S. (2012). Association of neighborhood characteristics with bystander-initiated CPR.
New England Journal of Medicine, 367(17), 1607-1615.