More Force Needed for Effective CPR

New findings show that laymen, and even many trained emergency personnel, do not push with enough force to properly administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Researchers from Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN, USA) tested 104 adults untrained in CPR and 83 firefighters who were trained in the procedure. Study participants were asked to push on a bathroom scale as though they were performing CPR, while the scale recorded the force they applied. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends pushing with enough force to compress the chest 3.8 to 5 cm, which requires 37 to 47 kg of force.

The findings showed that 60% of the CPR-trained rescue personnel pushed with more than 47 kg, whereas more than 60% of those not trained in CPR failed to push with more than 47 kg of force. The study was published in the June 2007 issue of the journal Cardiovascular Engineering.

"Every minute lost in applying CPR results in a 10% decrease in successful resuscitation,” said lead author Prof. Leslie Geddes, Ph.D., D.Sc. "Time is the enemy. After 10 minutes, very few are resuscitated.”

Pushing with more than 47 kg increases the potential for rib fractures, but the chances of survival increase enormously. The new AHA guidelines recommend that rescuers performing CPR should push harder and faster, added Prof. Geddes. "As a result of this recommendation, it's likely that the resuscitation rate will increase, but it's equally likely that the fracture rate will increase.”


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