EMSA using new CPR procedures

Tuesday, March 2nd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A new method of CPR could breathe new life into cardiac arrest victims. Emergency workers in Seattle, Washington discovered a way to save lives without using mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

When a victim is not breathing, mouth-to-mouth is performed followed by a series of chest compressions. A simpler method would eliminate 'mouth-to-mouth' all together, only applying the chest compressions.

EMSA says this form of CPR would eliminate the difficulty of explaining the procedure over the phone to inexperienced bystanders. EMSA EMT Barry Lenard: â€œWe're supposed to in a matter of 20 seconds tell a person how to give rescue breaths over the phone without any visual aid. You've already wasted four minutes trying to teach them how to, when they could be doing compressions."

EMSA says the new method could save 15% more lives, maybe more. It's already being done in at least a dozen cities in the US. Once it's tested and approved here in Tulsa, the new method could go into affect this summer. But EMSA still encourages people to learn CPR.