British Heart Foundation launches ‘hands only CPR’ campaign
The British Heart Foundation have launched a new campaign aimed at encouraging bystanders to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Their message is that chest compressions are more important than the “kiss of life” (rescue breaths) so bystanders should concentrate on performing chest compressions.
We have become the first organisation in the UK to actively promote Hands-only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Backed by Resuscitation Council UK, we say anyone who doesn’t have CPR training should now ignore the kiss of life in favour of “hard and fast” compressions in the centre of the chest.
Our poll showed nearly half of people are put off helping because of a lack of knowledge about CPR. A fifth of respondents worried specifically about the thought of the kiss of life or catching an infectious disease.
As part of the campaign, the BHF have created a TV advert staring Vinnie Jones:
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You can find out more about the campaign on the BHF’s website: http://www.bhf.org.uk/default.aspx?page=14087
If a person isn’t breathing, as the campaign suggests, but has a heart beat then that person does not require compressions but oxygen and therefore mouth to mouth if an air bag is not available. It is when the heart is not pulsating that compressions are needed and in both cases mouth to mouth is needed due to the fact that after 3 minutes of no oxygen to the brain it will start to die, leaving the patient brain damaged. This is why the body has a constant flow of oxygen being pumped into our bodies… I am sincerely worried that this campaign will causes cases of brain death in the attempt to save their life.
Hello! Just want to say thank you for this interesting article! =) Peace, Joy.
Wow. I had heard about this from Breaking Bad actually. I know that sounds weird. But in one scene someone tries to breathe into the unconscious person’s mouth and Walt says, “No they found out that that doesn’t help.” Very interesting stuff. Thanks for this.