By Diane Cohen
Houston Chronicle
Copyright 2007 The Houston Chronicle
HOUSTON — Even folks untrained in CPR — cardiopulmonary resuscitation — know that the first-aid procedure of chest compressions and breaths can help save the life of someone who’s had a heart attack.
New research presented this month at an American Heart Association conference shows that the chest compressions may be the more important half of the equation.
Dr. Alex G. Garza presented research from his days as medical director of Emergency Medical Services in Kansas City, Mo., showing that upping the compression-breath ratio to 50:2 can substantially improve a heart attack victim’s survival rate. Chest compressions keep blood circulating around the heart until emergency personnel can shock it back to work. Stopping to help the person breathe can stop the circulation of blood.
Just last year the AHA changed its CPR rule to 30 compressions followed by two rescue breaths. Previously, the compression-breath ratio had been 15:2.
Garza’s bottom line: Maximize compressions, minimize breaths.