Anxiety can hit anyone, especially those who are not trained to handle medical situations. Believe it or not, even health practitioners can panic over the prospect of performing CPR.
CPR is not something one expects to do every day, but it is a skill that can save lives. We have heard stories about people collapsing in train stations, along a sidewalk, on a plane, or just about anywhere. Sometimes, medics may arrive late.
Hundreds of heroic stories of people who have applied CPR until help arrived. However, many remain hesitant to come to the rescue and perform CPR. Here are five of the most common fears about CPR and the mitigating factors you need to know.
Uncertainty about one’s CPR skills
Even after receiving CPR training, some people still need to figure out their ability to perform it when the occasion arises. There is no better way to keep up with what is new in CPR emergency first aid than to attend refresher training regularly. Aside from in-person training courses, CPR courses are now available online, 24/7. There is nothing like an added boost of confidence to shake off that anxiety when you receive quality CPR instruction to save lives.
Potential harm to the victim
People are afraid that the victim’s family will blame them. You need not fear doing more harm to a victim. CPR is used only under these conditions: unconscious, unresponsive, and not breathing (or not breathing normally). In reality, applying CPR cannot make the situation worse. What it does is buy them time till they get real help.
Lawsuits
The fear of getting sued can often be a cause of inaction. Lay rescuers are considered good samaritans. Good Samaritan laws exist in every state; they protect an individual from lawsuits while providing emergency medical care under these conditions:
- The rescuer is trying to help
- The rescuer’s actions are reasonable
- The rescuer does not receive specific compensation for performing CPR.
Diseases
Some people fear contracting a disease from the blood or body fluids of the victim. A health practitioner can prepare for this by carrying personal protective equipment (PPE) and a face shield. But if you are just an ordinary citizen, you can always opt for a “hands only” CPR. Applying CPR this way for three to five minutes can mean the difference in saving a life.
Unsafe scene
The surrounding area where the victim is could also pose a danger, such as fire, downed electrical wires, or some other natural disaster. Always survey the area to make sure you are safe if you decide to enter it to help. Call Emergency Medical Services (EMS) first if you need more clarification.
There are estimates that as few as 5% of people survive a cardiac arrest outside a hospital, but that rate doubles when CPR is immediately given. You could be a lifesaver. Fears can either make us fight, take flight, or freeze. Knowing now that your worries have mitigating factors, we hope you become more comfortable about performing CPR when the situation arises. The life you save might even be that of a loved one.
Photo credit: https://www.pexels.com/photo/paramedic-performing-cpr-6520083/
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