CPR is mostly an emergency intervention to keep someone critically ill (from trauma or other acute medical emergency) alive long enough to get them to the ER.
If someone needs CPR at all, the chance of being able to fix the underlying cause of their cardiopulmonary arrest on a space station is infinitesimal.
I agree CPR in that situation is probably limited value. I bet you can find their procedure manual online, but on station, the victim would only be a few meters from a defibrillator and drugs to fix the problem. The ER is some 12 or 24 hours away.
Is this one of the final researches to be carried out in space beyond instruments in probes and satellites, considering they're going to let the ISS burn up?
High quality CPR includes AED usage. 30 compressions to two ventilations. After 2 minutes of CPR, perform a rhythm check with AED and shock if advised. There are existing robots that do chest compressions for you (Zoll AutoPulse, LUCAS). They would work in space I bet.
So since weight is so reduced could you not grab the person who's unconscious hands and use your foot? I mean it's not ideal but in reality wouldn't CPR on earth be easier with machines too? It's not exactly an easy process if done correctly
6 comments
[ 2.6 ms ] story [ 21.8 ms ] threadIf someone needs CPR at all, the chance of being able to fix the underlying cause of their cardiopulmonary arrest on a space station is infinitesimal.
Source: I'm an EMT