How long should you continue to give chest compressions and artificial respiration in a person with a cardiac arrest?
Show the correct answer
Correct answer
A. Until the medical rescue team arrives.
Explanation
In the photo, a rescuer is practising chest compressions on a manikin - you do the same with a person in cardiac arrest. CPR is continued until the medical rescue team arrives and takes over the casualty - answer A. Stopping after 15 minutes (B) or judging by body temperature (C) has no justification at all.
Apart from the arrival of the rescuers, you may stop compressions only when the casualty starts breathing normally or moving, when you run out of strength, or when the situation becomes dangerous for you. You press the centre of the chest to a depth of 5-6 cm at a rate of 100-120 per minute, 30 compressions to 2 breaths; if you do not want to give breaths, compressions alone also save lives. Calling for help and starting CPR is the duty of every witness.
Legal basis: Art. 4 of the State Emergency Medical Services Act; Art. 162 of the Criminal Code