Is CPR Politically Correct?

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

i 'm gonna be flammed for this one!

now before you start to breathe fire please follow my story.

my parents - in their 60's attended a class with other retiree's - they were told by an instructor not to learn cpr because the risk of them having a heart attack or stroking out while doing it was too great. the gag is many of the people in that class were a darn sight fitter than those half thier age!

where did this idea come from? when was the last time you saw a picture of a rescuer performing cpr who was not young and fit? certainly there is never a picture of a pregant rescuer. but anyone who has been pregnant will tell you that the position advocated for performing mouth to mouth with the knees tucked up under the body is almost impossible especially in the later stages of pregnancy.

what about very small adults - when i was teaching cpr years ago i also taught an alternative - to "straddle" the patient in case of transporting on a trolley. i found that the smaller stature staff got better compressions in this postion than in the trraditional kneel at the side postion.

there is no provision for the illiterate or the inummerate. having taught all levels i can positively state that one of the most frightening thing about cpr for the general public is "remembering all the numbers"

what about those with a physical disability such as a "stiff knee" or bad back. as far as i have been able to determine these issues have never been fully discussed or researched.

surely cpr should be a skill that anyone can perform not just a select few.

[itsme]

I agree, I think everyone should learn it regardless of age or size! I have never heard of being to old to know cpr! I think that in LTC there shouldnt be cpr, but that is a whole nother can of worms!! :)

[webbiedebbie]

Ditto

[nursedawn67, LPN]

Originally posted by itsme

I agree, I think everyone should learn it regardless of age or size! I have never heard of being to old to know cpr! I think that in LTC there shouldnt be cpr, but that is a whole nother can of worms!! :)

I agree that there shouldn't be CPR in LTC, EXCEPT in the case of some one that is A&O and is only there for rehab or something to that effect. I have seen some residents that are totally confused, no quality of life and their families want them to have CPR. It isn't explained to the families very well what can happen during CPR and that their family member, if brought back, will be the same or worse condition wise.....but the families want to hold on so tight sometimes that they become blind to it or like I said have no idea what really happens during CPR.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Hey no flames from here!

NOT learn CPR? Here in the US they've really relaxed the numbers thing. It's no longer CPR certified, but Basic Rescuer.

The feeling is that ANY CPR is better than NO CPR.

I mean after all if your heart stops you are dead!How much worse could it get!

There are also more and more automated defibrillators in the community. I'm only 1 year away from MY 60's, with a bad back and numb leg but you 'd better bet if my family or friends need CPR I WILL do it.

Short of your folks having such severe medical problems that it would cause irreparable harm, I'd say they would benefit if only to be able to help each other.

[disher]

Sounds like the CPR instructor overgeneralized, if a person is capable of moderate exercise they should be able to do CPR. As far as people with disabilities learning CPR, we have staff who have spinal cord injuries and they recertify in CPR along with the rest of us. Adaptations can be made for individual situations, I would say if you tolerate moderate exercise and can apply pressure with the palms of your hands you likely can do CPR.