Importance of First Responders in Detecting Cardiac Arrest
In the field of emergency medicine, first responders play a crucial role in detecting and responding promptly to life-threatening situations such as cardiac arrest. Among these responders, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) stands out as an essential skill that can significantly increase a patient’s chance of survival.
Summer Stroke: A Seasonal Risk
While it is commonly known that stroke and heart attack rates tend to spike during the winter months due to temperature fluctuations, it is important to note that the risk remains high even in the scorching summer heat. The combination of heat waves and an increased likelihood of drowning can further exacerbate the occurrence of stroke and heart attacks during this season. Therefore, it is vital to respond promptly and efficiently to minimize the potentially severe consequences.
A study conducted by medical professionals has revealed a concerning trend. During the summer, the number of heart attack cases, often caused by drowning incidents at vacation spots or swimming pools, multiplies. Shockingly, the out-of-hospital survival rate for these heart attack patients is an alarming 5%. This reinforces the crucial role that immediate responders play in saving lives. By swiftly initiating CPR or employing an automatic external defibrillator (AED) if available, the chances of survival can increase two to threefold.
In case you encounter someone who appears to be in cardiac arrest, it is important to act swiftly and effectively. Begin by tapping the person gently on the shoulder, asking them aloud if they are alright while observing their response. If no response is received, immediately contact the emergency services at 119 and initiate chest compression resuscitation as per the operator’s guidance. If you are unfamiliar with performing CPR with artificial respiration, stick to chest compression resuscitation alone.
Kim Soon-yong, the head of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Incheon Sejong Hospital, stressed the importance of applying firm, regular, and rapid pressure to the lower half of the breastbone during chest compression resuscitation. To ensure effectiveness, maintain a compression depth of 5 cm (4 to 5 cm for children) at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. For those employing both chest compressions and artificial respiration, alternate between 30 compressions at the chest and 2 artificial respirations.
Managing Stroke Risk Factors in All Seasons
Individuals with underlying stroke risk factors, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, must remain vigilant even during the summer months. Stroke, a condition characterized by a blockage or rupture of blood vessels in the brain, encompasses both hemorrhagic stroke (cerebral hemorrhage) and ischemic stroke (cerebral infarction). The risk of cerebral hemorrhage is particularly high during periods of significant temperature changes, such as the transition from winter to spring or summer to autumn. On the other hand, cerebral infarction rates tend to increase in the summer due to factors such as poor blood circulation resulting from excessive sweating and the consequent thickening of the blood.
According to neurologist Jeong In-young from H+ Yangji Hospital, individuals should remain attentive to potential stroke symptoms, including hemiplegia, paresthesia, severe headache, decreased vision, and speech abnormalities. In such cases, seeking immediate medical attention is crucial.
Time plays a pivotal role in stroke management. Reaching the hospital within the first 3 to 4 hours after experiencing stroke symptoms offers the best chance for timely treatment. For ischemic stroke, where clot-dissolving medication can be employed, the golden time expands to 4 hours and 30 minutes. However, even if this timeframe is missed, intra-arterial thrombectomy may still be a viable option within 24 hours, depending on the circumstances. Thus, it is essential not to lose hope and take immediate action.
The treatment of cerebral hemorrhage depends on the location and extent of the bleeding. While less severe cases can be managed with medication, surgical intervention becomes necessary for significant bleeding or the presence of abnormal angiography results. However, it is important to note that such procedures carry inherent risks, including a higher chance of hemiplegia or death. Seeking emergency medical attention promptly is vital for proper diagnosis and treatment, which may involve CT, MRI, or angiography.
Reducing Stroke Risk in the Summer
To minimize the risk of stroke during the summer, certain preventive measures can be adopted. Limiting outdoor activities during the hottest hours of the day, avoiding strenuous exercise in extreme weather conditions, and maintaining a daily water intake of at least 2 liters are beneficial strategies to safeguard against stroke.
First responders such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are important when detecting a patient in cardiac arrest
A cerebral infarction with blocked blood vessels is more likely than a cerebral haemorrhage… 2 liters of water helps
Summer stroke in heat waves 1 Stroke and heart attack (heart attack) are known to increase during seasons or winter when the temperature difference is sharp, but the risk of stroke and heart attack are high even in the summer when the risk of heat waves and drowning is high. For both diseases, it is important to respond promptly when a patient occurs because missing the golden time can lead to suffering from after-effects or death in severe cases.
According to the medical community on the 3rd, the number of heart attack patients (heart attack) increases during the summer due to drowning accidents at vacation spots or swimming pools. The out-of-hospital survival rate for heart attack (heart attack) patients is only 5%. That is why it is so important to respond in the first place when a patient occurs. It is helpful to save the patient’s life if the first witness immediately performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or actively uses an automatic external defibrillator (AED) if one is nearby. Survival rates increase two to three times with CPR.
If you find someone in cardiac arrest, tap them on the shoulder and ask out loud if they are okay to check their response. If there is no response, immediately notify 119 and start chest compression resuscitation by repeatedly compressing the breastbone area as instructed while maintaining a speakerphone call with an emergency medical helpline operator 119. If you are not know how to perform CPR with artificial respiration, perform chest compression resuscitation only.
“The key to chest compression resuscitation is to apply strong, regular and rapid pressure to the lower half of the breastbone,” said Kim Soon-yong, head of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Incheon Sejong Hospital. ” he said. The depth of compression is 5 cm (4 to 5 cm for children), and the rate is maintained at 100 to 120 times per minute. If chest compressions and artificial respiration are performed, repeat the process of 30 compressions at the chest and 2 artificial respirations.
If you have stroke risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes, you should not be on your guard even in summer. Stroke is divided into hemorrhagic stroke (cerebral haemorrhage) caused by blockage of blood vessels in the brain and ischemic stroke (cerebral infarction) caused by blockage of blood vessels in the brain. The risk of cerebral hemorrhage is high during the changing seasons of March-April and September-November with large temperature changes, and the incidence of cerebral infarction increases in summer.
There is a high possibility of tearing blood vessels (cerebral haemorrhage) due to constriction of blood vessels and an increase in blood pressure during the change of seasons due to the large temperature difference between morning and afternoon due to temperature changes in the morning and afternoon. on the other hand, in the summer, blood becomes sticky and circulates poorly in the process of expelling a large amount of sweat to lower body temperature, thus restricting blood vessels Greater risk of cerebral infarction.
Jeong In-young, a neurologist at H+ Yangji Hospital, said, “Symptoms of a stroke are hemiplegia, paresthesia, severe headache, decreased vision, incorrect pronunciation or slurred speech. In this case, you should go to the hospital without delay .”
The golden time for a stroke is about 3 to 4 hours, but considering the examination time after reaching the hospital, you should reach the hospital within 1 hour. The golden time for cerebral infarction, where clot-dissolving drugs can be used, is 4 hours 30 minutes from the onset of symptoms, but even if you miss it, intra-arterial thrombectomy is possible up to 24 hours depending on the situation. , so you shouldn’t give up.
The treatment of cerebral haemorrhage where the blood vessels of the brain burst varies depending on the location of the bleeding and the extent of the cause. If there is little bleeding, drug treatment is possible, but if there is much bleeding or an angiography abnormality is found, surgical treatment is inevitable, but the risk of hemiplegia or death inevitably increases. Specialist Chung said, “Brain cells suffer great damage if their blood supply is interrupted for just a few minutes, so we need to find an emergency room (hospital) as soon as possible and get proper diagnosis and treatment using CT, MRI, or angiography.”
To reduce the risk of stroke in the summer, it is useful to refrain from outdoor activities in the afternoon when the temperature is high, avoid extreme outdoor exercise, and consume more than 2 liters of water a day.
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