CPR Terms to Know: Ratio Chart, Key Numbers and More
4 min read
To help people understand cardiac arrest and how to respond, the American Heart Association has created a series of instructional materials.
One of the essential tools for learning CPR is the ratio chart, which helps responders remember how long to pump on a victim’s chest and when to give breaths.
In this blog post, you will learn about some key terms and definitions.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Learning CPR Related Terms
When you know the correct cardiac awareness terms, you can feel more confident about providing care in an emergency. The correct terminology also helps you communicate more effectively with other first responders and medical professionals. In some cases, using the wrong term could delay care or even lead to a misdiagnosis.
CPR Terms You Need to Know
Here are some of the most crucial cardiac awareness related terms to know about:
What Is CPR?
The term “CPR” is an abbreviation for “cardiopulmonary resuscitation.” CPR is a life-saving technique used when someone’s heart has stopped beating. It can be performed by trained medical professionals or by laypeople who have received CPR training.
What Is a CPR Ratio Chart?
A ratio chart is a tool that helps rescuers remember the correct ratio of chest compressions to breaths for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The current ratio is 30:two, which means that for every 30 chest compressions, the rescuer should give two breaths. This CPR Ratio Chart is for adults, children, and infants who are not newborns.
What Is a Compression-Only CPR?
Compression-only CPR is a variation of CPR that can be used when a rescuer is not trained in CPR or when the rescuer is unwilling to give mouth-to-mouth breaths. In compression-only CPR, the rescuer performs chest compressions only, at a ratio of 100:2.
What Is Hands-only CPR?
Hands-only CPR is a variation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation that can be used when a rescuer is not trained in CPR or when the rescuer is unwilling to give mouth-to-mouth breaths. In hands-only CPR, the rescuer performs chest compressions only, at a ratio of 30:2.
What Is Traditional CPR?
Traditional CPR is the most common type of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It involves chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing. The ratio for traditional CPR is 30:2.
What Is an AED?
An AED is an automated external defibrillator. AEDs can be used to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm. They are easy to use and can be found in many public places, such as airports and stadiums.
What Is ACLS?
ACLS is an acronym for advanced cardiac life support. ACLS is a set of guidelines and protocols that medical professionals use to treat patients in cardiac arrest. ACLS is a more advanced form of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. ACLS is used in hospitals and other medical settings.
What Is BLS?
BLS is an acronym for essential life support. BLS is a set of guidelines and protocols that medical professionals use to treat patients who are in cardiac arrest. BLS is a more basic form of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is helpful for first responders, such as police officers and firefighters, who are not medical professionals.
Key Numbers for CPR
A few Key Numbers are significant to remember when performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The first is 100:2, which is the ratio for compression-only CPR.
The second is 30:2, which is the ratio for standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
The third is two, which is the number of breaths that should be given for each 30 chest compressions in CPR.
The fourth is 100, which is the number of chest compressions per minute that should be given in CPR.
What Is CAD?
CAD is an acronym for cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency in which the heart stops beating. When this happens, blood flow to the brain and other organs stops, and death can occur within minutes. When CAD happens, CPR must be started immediately to try to save the victim’s life.
What Is a Community Access Defibrillation Program?
The Community Access Defibrillation Program is a program that provides AEDs to community groups and organizations. The program’s goal is to increase the number of AEDs available in communities so that more people can be saved from cardiac arrest.
What Is the Chain of Survival?
The chain of survival is a set of four steps that must be followed to save someone from cardiac arrest. The steps are:
-Early access to 911
-Early CPR
-Early defibrillation
-Early advanced cardiovascular life support
Each step in the chain of survival is essential and can increase the victim’s chances of surviving cardiac arrest.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an essential life-saving skill that everyone should know. By understanding the terms like CPR Ratio Chart and critical numbers associated with CPR, you will be better prepared to save a life.
