There is a sequence that is known as ABC and stands for Airway, Breathing and Compression. They are the basic procedures to be followed when one is administering cardiovascular pulmonary resuscitation. They have been used for a long time and it’s only recently that they were changed to CAB. This shows the importance of starting with compression to resuscitate a person who is suffering from a sudden cardiac arrest.

The guidelines were published in one of AHA’s journal known as Circulation. It should be noted that the guidelines are only applicable to adults, children and infants but not newborns. They were written by Mary Fran Hazinski, RN, of Vanderbilt University and John Field, MD Penn State University.

Both the authors recognized the need to re-educate people on the revised guidelines. This would include those who had learned the initials ABCs of CPR.

They wrote in their article that survival rates are likely to be higher if chest compressions are initiated prior to any other procedure. The results would be the same for victims of all ages. The change in rhythm succession does away with chest compression while slightly holding up ventilation.

Supporting the use of chest compression

Use of chest compression has gained massive acceptance from a lot of sectors in the medical field. This is evident as a journal of the American Medical Association published an observational study indicating how survival rates of patients was better when chest compression as used. The conclusion was the same in another different journal known as the Lancet.

The authors didn’t fail to mention that CAB would in no way completely take over from ABC as there were several situations where the latter was more effective and reliant. They included cases such as drowning and asphyxia arrest where the airway needed to be cleared first.

Other changes to the guideline included the elimination of ‘Look, Listen and Feel.’ It was removed mostly because it was considered a waste of time and could cost the victim’s life.

Looking at the new guidelines

The changes stress the significance of quickly activating ERS in situations where the victim has suffered from a sudden cardiac arrest. The use of chest compression is then required if the same patient isn’t breathing at all. You should note that gasps aren’t considered as an indication of breathing.

The quality of CPR being administered should improve if the changes made are to help save lives. Recommended compression depth should be at least 1.2 inches for infants and 2 inches for adults with the rate being 100 compressions for every minute. The new guidelines state that interruptions during compressions should be avoided at all costs.

Other things of importance include treatments strategies that cover various disciplines. Some of them include vital organ perfusion and organization of cardiopulmonary operations, intervention and identification of acute coronary syndrome, transportation to hospital and utilization of therapeutic hypothermia to increase neurological revival and anticipation cure.