Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a time-sensitive procedure that manually circulates blood and oxygen when a person’s heart has stopped. This intervention is recognized as a necessary step to maintain minimal function in the brain and other organs until professional help arrives. Many people hesitate to perform CPR because they fear causing injury to the victim, which is a valid concern when the technique is performed incorrectly. Understanding the specific risks of improper technique highlights the value of formal training.
Physical Injuries Resulting from Errors
Incorrect chest compressions can lead to mechanical trauma, primarily due to improper hand placement or excessive force. Fractures to the ribs and sternum are the most common physical injuries, which are often unavoidable when applying the necessary force to compress the chest at least 2 inches to circulate blood effectively.
The risk of serious internal damage increases when the rescuer’s hands are positioned incorrectly, such as too far down on the abdomen. Improper placement can fracture lower ribs, which may lacerate or bruise underlying organs like the liver or spleen. Using fingertips instead of the heel of the hand also concentrates the force, increasing the chance of rib damage. These severe internal injuries can complicate the patient’s recovery afterward.
Reduced Effectiveness and Circulation Failure
The primary consequence of incorrect CPR is the failure to maintain adequate blood circulation, which delivers oxygen to the brain and vital organs. This failure results from compressions that are either too shallow or delivered at an improper rate. Guidelines recommend compressing the adult chest to a depth of at least 2 inches but not more than 2.4 inches; insufficient depth means the pressure generated is too low to pump blood effectively.
A compression rate outside the recommended 100 to 120 compressions per minute compromises the heart’s function. Rapid compressions prevent the heart from refilling with blood between pushes, reducing the volume ejected with each pump. Conversely, slow compressions fail to sustain consistent flow, leading to brain hypoxia and potential cell death within minutes. Another error is “leaning,” where the rescuer does not allow the chest to fully recoil, preventing the heart from drawing in new blood.
Complications from Improper Ventilation
Improper technique during rescue breaths primarily causes gastric inflation, which is the inflation of the stomach instead of the lungs. This issue occurs when air is delivered too forcefully, too quickly, or if the rescuer fails to correctly perform the head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver to open the airway.
When air enters the stomach, the abdomen swells and pushes against the diaphragm. This upward pressure makes it difficult to perform effective chest compressions, reducing the overall quality of CPR. Gastric inflation also increases the risk of the victim vomiting stomach contents. If the victim inhales this material, a severe complication called aspiration occurs, which can lead to aspiration pneumonia.