The current thinking is that you should stop CPR if after a certain length of time there is no response from the casualty. The reasoning was simple. Even if you did manage get the heart pumping again,the victims system would have suffered serious oxygen deprivation so wide scale brain damage was inevitable.

But a recent case involving local bystanders and skilled medics from the Mayo Clinic may have disproved the above theory. It is certainly compelling evidence to suggest that the current CPR guidelines may mean we give up on a casualty too soon.

In the above case, a 54 year old man suffered a cardiac arrest in his home town. Luckily it was quite cold which helped as did the prompt actions of his neighbors who immediately called 911 and began CPR. There were a group of people who all had achieved their CPR certification working together and this certainly was a factor in the mans subsequent survival.

The man hadn’t had a pulse for over 96 minutes when he was revived and transferred to hospital. He needed surgery but was later released from hospital having sustained no brain damage. Clearly, if a man with no detectable pulse can survive after 96 minutes of CPR without brain damage then more people who suffer cardiac arrest can survive as well.

So what can be learn from the above case? The American Heart Association believes that gathering information and sharing the same with medical professionals and hospitals across the United States is very important. If every hospital does their own research, this is a huge waste of resources, time and obviously money. Instead the various medical facilities need to work together.

By taking the time to share information on the various techniques, equipment and outcomes used by medical professionals in field, the American Heart Association believes that slowly but surely more lives will be saved. The research can be analyzed, assessed and recommendations changed in light of what is discovered. Staff in all medical facilities can be better trained leading to an increase in the numbers holding their ACLS certification. In the meantime, every member of the public should take the steps to get CPR certified and learn all they need to learn about treating someone who falls victim to a cardiac arrest. You can find details of your local classes by contacting either the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. Why not go today? After all you never know when you may need your skills.