'Hands-Only’ is the new standard in adult CPR

04/18/08

A new hands-only technique has proven to be just as effective as conventional Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) that combined chest compressions with mouth-to-mouth breathing.  Experts hope the new method will increase bystander willingness to help in an emergency.

Mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths are no longer crucial to performing CPR when a person collapses from sudden cardiac arrest, according to a scientific statement released by the American Heart Association (AHA).

A prompt call to 911 emergency services and constant chest compressions until professional help arrives are sufficient, according to a March 31 AHA press release.

The change comes after the association reviewed three independent large studies analyzing the use of CPR on cardiac arrest victims. The findings concluded that omitting mouth-to-mouth ventilations has no negative impact on victim survival. 

Roughly 310,000 U.S. adults die each year from sudden cardiac arrest outside of a medical facility, according to the AHA. After sudden cardiac arrest, bystander CPR can almost triple the victim’s chance of survival. Unfortunately, less than one-third of cardiac arrest victims receive bystander CPR outside of a hospital. By simplifying the technique and removing mouth-to-mouth contact, the association hopes that more bystanders will step in and help victims.

“Without immediate, effective CPR from a bystander, a person’s chance of surviving sudden cardiac arrest decreases seven percent to 10 percent per minute,” according to an AHA press release.

Hands-Only CPR involves 100 uninterrupted compressions on the victim’s chest per minute until medical help arrives or an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available to shock the victim’s heart into a normal rhythm.

The new Hands-Only technique applies only for adults who suddenly collapse, stop breathing and are unconscious. If the victim is a child or an adult who is unresponsive after almost drowning, possible drug overdose or carbon monoxide poisoning, conventional CPR involving both rescue breaths and chest compressions must still be performed.

The AHA still advises the community to learn full CPR. The Hands-Only method will be taught in addition to conventional training.

Prompted by the AHA’s recommendations, ComplyRight has added information to their CPR poster to include information relating to Hands-Only CPR. The poster advises those not trained in CPR or uncomfortable with mouth-to-mouth contact to skip the rescue breathing step and proceed to performing constant chest compressions until help arrives. The poster is a recommended workplace posting, but not required by law.

View all of the ComplyRight Lifesaving Posters.