OOPS! WRONG CPR!

"Americans Overestimate Survival After CPR" - "ORLANDO - Americans have unrealistic expectations about the chances of surviving after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), according to a US expert in emergency medicine. He said those expectations are fueled in part by the miracles worked by doctors on TV hospital dramas. Even the medical community does not seem to be completely aware that only about 1 in 10 people who undergo CPR actually survive, explained Dr. Amal Mattu, an assistant professor of emergency medicine from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore." (Reuters Health)

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2001

Answers

I had mandatory CPR training for a job a few years ago. the Red Cross teacher said that the success rate was abut 4%. It seems like a lot of time and money for such a small gain. Its the value placed on a chance to save a life. The odds are a lot better than winning the lottery, and look how many people line up to buy their chances.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2001

I'm living proof that there is life after CPR. Charles Reuben that is.

:)

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

Yes, Buddy and you are a far better person Post CPR aren't you?

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

In a small way maybe, Charles.

It was a joke though.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

Perhaps I'm just cynical, but I wonder if the success rate is so low because the procedure is done improperly. Combined with the fact that the procedure isn't performed often enough by any individual to remember the nuances perfectly, there's the stress associated with the need to do it at all.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

Hey, I've known him since 1996 -- and I survived ;-) (And aren't YOU a much better person, Charlie, for having known *me*?!?! wink, wink)

Seriously, though, I can't help but wonder if that's a large part of it, Anita; people who DON'T know how to perform the procedure, but try to help anyway.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001