Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure combining chest compressions with artificial ventilation. It is designed to maintain brain function and provide temporary support for individuals experiencing cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. CPR is specifically intended for life-threatening scenarios where a person’s heart has stopped beating effectively or they have stopped breathing.
Physical Harm Caused by Unnecessary CPR
Performing CPR on a conscious and responsive individual can result in significant physical harm. The forceful chest compressions, which aim to circulate blood, can lead to serious injuries. These may include fractured ribs or a fractured sternum, and internal organ damage to the heart, lungs, liver, or spleen.
Soft tissue injuries, such as bruising and muscle damage, are also possible. While these injuries are an accepted risk when CPR is genuinely needed, they are unwarranted when the person is conscious and breathing. Administering CPR to someone whose heart is still beating can also disrupt their natural heart rhythm.
Legal Consequences of Applying CPR to Someone Alive
Administering CPR to a conscious and breathing individual without their consent can have legal ramifications, potentially being considered assault or battery. Battery involves intentional physical contact with another person without their consent.
Good Samaritan laws typically protect individuals who provide emergency care to an unconscious or unresponsive person. However, these protections generally do not extend to situations where CPR is performed on someone who is conscious, responsive, and has not consented. If a conscious person refuses help, a rescuer might not be protected by Good Samaritan laws if they proceed with aid.
The Strict Criteria for Administering CPR
CPR is reserved for specific, life-threatening conditions where a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally. This includes individuals who cannot be woken up, are not breathing, or are only gasping for air (agonal breathing). The absence of a pulse is another key indicator that CPR is necessary.
If a person is unconscious but still breathing, CPR should not be performed. Instead, they should be monitored closely, and emergency services should be called. CPR helps maintain blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which is vital to prevent irreversible damage.
Appropriate Actions for a Conscious Person in Distress
If someone is conscious but appears to be in distress, the immediate action is to call emergency services. Staying with the person and offering reassurance can be helpful. If trained, provide appropriate first aid relevant to the situation, such as performing the Heimlich maneuver for choking or assisting someone experiencing a heart attack.
For a conscious person struggling to breathe, encourage them to cough if choking is suspected. If they have an inhaler or EpiPen, assist them in using it and call for help if their condition does not improve. Performing CPR is not indicated in these scenarios, as the person’s heart is still functioning and they are breathing.