• How to CPR a hunchback?

    In emergency situations, it might be necessary to know how to do CPR on a hunchback. CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and is a lifesaving technique which is often done in emergency situations. It is necessary to restore the flow of oxygen into the lungs. It involves two techniques mainly blowing deep breaths into the victim’s mouth and chest compressions.

    People with hunchbacks are unable to lie completely flat which is necessary to perform proper CPR. The back needs to be flat on a firm surface so that when doing chest compressions, the body does not move and risk any injury. The spine also needs to be supported to reduce the chances of vertebrae collapsing or shifting.

    Below are some steps as to how to perform CPR on someone with a hunchback.

    Step 1: Examine the environment
    Before approaching the body, you need to check for any imminent dangers and if you cannot perform CPR at the scene, you should move the victim to a safer area.

    Step 2: Lay the victim down flat
    The victim needs to be lying flat which is the main issue one faces when performing CPR on a person with a hunchback. Due to the lump on the back, the hunch back is unable to fully lay flat meaning when doing chest compressions; there is a high risk of injury. To overcome this problem, it is advised to lay the person on a firm pillow which will allow the lump to sink into it but the rest of the body is on one level.

    Another option is to lay the victim down on a table with their head hanging off the edge. If you have assistance, it would be helpful for someone to hold their head so it does move too much. It will also be necessary to put padding on either side of the body so they do not move from side to side.

    Step 3: Open the airway and give rescue breaths
    The next step is to make sure the airway is open by tilting the head back and pulling open the jaw. You then pinch the nose closed and slowly breathe into the victim’s mouth for one second. Do this twice and watch for the chest to rise as well as see the breath go in. Wait a few seconds after the two breaths for a response then move on to step 4.

    Step 4: Perform chest compressions
    If step 3 yields no results, place your hand on the victim’s breastbone between the nipples and the second hand on top of the first. With your body directly above the body, press down with both hands to perform a compression to help the heartbeat. Squeeze down continuously with ten second breaks thirty times.

    Dangers of performing CPR on a hunchback
    Due to the position of the spine, hunchbacks may get hurt during CPR especially when performing compressions. There is the risk of fracturing the ribs if you push the chest with too much force which may also lead to pneumothorax. Hunchbacks may also have weak chests and lungs so one needs to be careful not to place too much pressure during compressions.

    Performing CPR is not as hard as it seems and it is a handy skill to have. In the case you need to know how to perform CPR on a hunchback, this article should provide adequate advice.

     

    December 18, 2014 / Tracey / Comments Off on How to CPR a hunchback?

    Categories: Health

    Comments are currently closed.