About CPR

Research shows that approximately half of all cardiac arrest victims present in a non-shockable rhythm. When this occurs, CPR is the only hope for the victim. If you continue to perform high-quality CPR, you may convert the rhythm into one that is shockable, and then the AED will allow you to press the shock button and successfully save the victim. Will your AED help you to deliver good-quality CPR? The ZOLL® AED Plus® is the only defibrillator on the market that will provide the level of support needed to deliver effective CPR.

ZOLL believes an AED needs to provide a shock when necessary—and help the rescuer deliver high-quality CPR. AEDs that can’t “see” the CPR being delivered can’t fully support the rescuer, leaving him or her in most cases to draw upon past training that may have been undertaken years ago.

High-quality CPR is most needed immediately after a shock has been delivered. The most important thing CPR does is deliver oxygenated blood to the heart and brain. A heart that has just been shocked but is not receiving oxygenated blood through CPR is less likely to begin to work normally.

The European Resuscitation Council (ERC) Guidelines show that the chances of survival for a collapsed victim where no CPR is administered decrease by 10% per minute. After 10 minutes without CPR, chances of survival are minimal. However with high-quality CPR (100 compressions per minute at a depth of 5-6 cm), chances of survival decrease by only 4 % per minute. After 10 minutes of delivering high-quality CPR, the victim’s chances of survival are still at 60%.

What Happens in a Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) collapse, are unresponsive, lose consciousness, stop breathing and have no pulse. About 50% of the time, the victim is suffering from a heart rhythm disorder called ventricular fibrillation (VF). VF can happen to anyone—even someone who appears to be perfectly healthy. In this case, the casualty needs high-quality CPR and defibrillation from an AED.

The other 50% of victims generally present in either asystole or pulseless electrical activity (PEA) cardiac rhythms, where there is no detectable activity of the heart. In this situation, the only treatment is good-quality CPR. The key feature of our products is the incorporation of a tried and tested technology called Real CPR Help®, which has been clinically proven to more than double the survival rate of cardiac arrest casualties.1

Resuscitation science continues to advance, and clinical guidelines are updated regularly to reflect these developments and advise healthcare providers on best practices. Apart from the need to simplify the guidelines to assist with training skill acquisition and retention, the main emphasis of the Resuscitation Guidelines 2010 is on the delivery of consistent good-quality chest compressions with minimal pauses.

2010 Resuscitation Guidelines emphasized the importance of CPR

• A more focused effort on high-quality, timely chest compressions with minimal interruptions.
• Chest compressions should be delivered at a depth of 5-6 cm and at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.
• Do not stop to check the victim or discontinue CPR unless the victim starts to show signs of regaining consciousness.
• CPR prompt or feedback devices improve CPR skill acquisition and retention, and should be considered during CPR training for lay people and health care professionals.