Comments on: Can Cpr Be Harmful For Victim ?

By: jindivik

jindivik — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:14:44 +0000

this is a common mistake actually…sometimes the heart beat cant be found
CPR is only really used to keep blood pumping around the body, not to start the heart beating again, it is used to maintain at least some blood flow until a defibrilator can be used
i don’t think you could do too much harm to the patient, although im not a doctor so don’t really know

By: ghost

ghost — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:03:28 +0000

There is a bone that can be broken off into the chest. Also, expect to hear ribs breaking while giving chest compression, it’s going to happen.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:20:10 +0000

one of the side effects of CPR is broken ribs. the starting and stopping I’m not sure of those effects.

By: ron9base

ron9base — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:29:29 +0000

If you break their ribs – yes. If the person is otherwise healthy my guess is you’d have to apply WAY too much pressure injure them permanent (to injure their heart muscle or stop it all together.) If the person is old(er) and unhealthy, perhaps you could stop their heart by performing CPR?
Disclaimer: This is JUST SPECULATION on my part – I am no medical expert. If you are really concerned about this, speak with certified CPR trainers.
Good luck.

By: emt_me91

emt_me91 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:53:01 +0000

Yes.
It’s not uncommon to break ribs while performing CPR. I’ve done it a few times. It’s a sickening feeling the first time it happens but now it doesn’t bother me.
It really is in the patient’s best interest. You just have to be careful not to push so hard that a broken rib punctures a lung and causes a pneumothorax. That would be bad.
EMT