CPR has been revised.

[Buddha]

Take a minute. Save a life. Seriously.

Learn Sarver Heart Center's Continuous Chest Compression CPR | College of Medicine

[revjvegas]

Yup.
They'd made mention of this the last time I renewed my training cert.
Basically, the most important part of CPR is getting blood to the vital organs until EMT arrives on the scene.
Everyone should know basic CPR; its easy and you could save a life.

[bones]

Just FYI, the good Samaritan law is not as strong as you think and not worth the paper it is written on.

Something goes wrong and with a good attorney, you are toast.

United States

The details of good Samaritan laws/acts in various jurisdictions vary, including who is protected from liability and in what circumstances. Not all jurisdictions provide protection to laypersons, in those cases only protecting trained personnel, such as doctors or nurses.

So... With that said, even if you are CPR cert, think twice before putting yourself in harms way.

[Buddha]

Well then, let the lawyers die and blame it on them for not helping.

[ElanR]

Originally Posted by bones

Just FYI, the good Samaritan law is not as strong as you think and not worth the paper it is written on.

Something goes wrong and with a good attorney, you are toast.



So... With that said, even if you are CPR cert, think twice before putting yourself in harms way.

If you can save a life, you must do it -- or at least try. There's really nothing to think about here. I'd rather live with a lawsuit than live knowing I let someone die. And I really don't think anyone will sue me for trying to save a person's life anyway. I mean I really, really don't! Where is all this paranoia coming from anyway?

[DoublyDan]

Originally Posted by ElanR

Where is all this paranoia coming from anyway?

I would name the administration but there is no politics here.

[divenut1]

An EMT can't do much more...even a paramedic is reduced to pumping the chest with the only added therapy of certain drugs. A defibrillator is only good if you have certain rhythms to the heart..if there is no heartbeat then a defib will not work.
Nothing like hanging on in the the back of the box pushing on the chest for a 10 minute code three run to the ER over 2 lane farm to market roads....the good part is that by then the ribs are all cracked and it's all nice, easy and squishy....

The theory behind the change is that by the time you have performed enough compressions to build the pressure up enough to move blood you are stopping to breath for the victim. The new method makes it simpler and the action actually moves some air into and out of the lungs...make thing is that it is circulating blood more consistently.
The problem was basically that it wasn't getting O2 to the blood but notmoving the blood effectively.

[bones]

Originally Posted by ElanR

If you can save a life, you must do it -- or at least try. There's really nothing to think about here. I'd rather live with a lawsuit than live knowing I let someone die. And I really don't think anyone will sue me for trying to save a person's life anyway. I mean I really, really don't! Where is all this paranoia coming from anyway?

Actually that is where you are 'dead' wrong. I don't have to do anything.

If you don't think anyone will sue you then do some research and you will be surprised. It is not paranoia, it is knowing human nature. Having an extensive background in law and medicine has its advantages as well.

CPR is a choice and if you choose to administer it then by all means, try to save a life.

Good luck.

[ElanR]

Originally Posted by bones

Actually that is where you are 'dead' wrong. I don't have to do anything.

If you don't think anyone will sue you then do some research and you will be surprised. It is not paranoia, it is knowing human nature. Having an extensive background in law and medicine has its advantages as well.

CPR is a choice and if you choose to administer it then by all means, try to save a life.

Good luck.

I don't need to research anything. If I can help a person in need, I just do it. I couldn't live with myself any other way. You obviously have no problem watching someone die and not helping, or at least that's what you think. But if you have any kind of conscience at all, an event like this will haunt you for the rest of your life.

Btw, the biggest risk you take every day is leaving your house. I suggest you stay home and really be safe.

[Resa]

Originally Posted by bones

Just FYI, the good Samaritan law is not as strong as you think and not worth the paper it is written on.

Something goes wrong and with a good attorney, you are toast.



So... With that said, even if you are CPR cert, think twice before putting yourself in harms way.

In Texas, the Good Samaritan Law does protect the layperson.

Texas Good Samaritan Act

Article 6701d, Vernon's Civil Statutes ; Chapter 74, Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 74.001

LIABILITY FOR EMERGENCY CARE

(a) a person who in good faith administers emergency care at the scene of an emergency or in a hospital is not liable in civil damages for an act performed during the emergency unless the act is willfully or wantonly negligent.

(b) This section does not apply for care administered:

(1) for of in expectation of remuneration;

(2) by a person who was at the scene of the emergency because he or a person he represents as an agent was soliciting business or seeking to perform a service for remuneration;

(3) by a person who regularly administers emergency care in a hospital or emergency room; or

(4) by an admitting physician or a treating physician associated by the admitting physician of a patient bringing a health-care liability claim.

(V.A.C.S. Art. 1a (part).)

[Buddha]

Some times the State of Texas does make sense. Good for it!

[Sweet Caroline]

There was also always a risk of disease from delivering rescue breathing, unless you were prepared with a dental dam. I had never thought about that until a CPR instructor brought it up.

[shutterfire]

Originally Posted by Sweet Caroline

There was also always a risk of disease from delivering rescue breathing, unless you were prepared with a dental dam. I had never thought about that until a CPR instructor brought it up.

I hope that if I need resusitation that someone isnt worried about a dental dam. By the way there are one way valve resusitator masks available. I have one in all three of the cars + a box of gloves in each car it comes in handy once in a blue moon. Delivered a baby in a convience store. One really nasty car accident that was a roll over with 3 unrestrained children in the back. That I had to hold pressure on an artery until EMS arrived at 2 am. If It was your child or spouse I hope that you would be beyond thankfull.

[firenut]

I think that the main reason for the change is to get people to actually perform CPR. Most would not even try because of the "mouth to mouth" part of it.

Most changes is CPR over the years has been to make it easier for the lay-person to remember the technique, not because it is better for the victim.

p.s. And please give us a case where the "Good Samaritan Law" did not hold up in court.