Search
Share
Using digital CPR systems to increase survival and improve lay person training
Since 2010 the American Heart Association has sought better training procedures to improve survival rates among out of hospital lay responders. This effort has been hampered by the lack of quantifiable, and repeatable data.
Now, there is a digital system that provides the digital feedback to lay persons that is quantifiable, repeatable, and storable for later review and research; CPR Mirror.
Measure to Improve
In order to improve a thing, you have to be able to measure it. There is a vital need to provide reliable qualitative feed- back on CPR training globally. Every person applying CPR, must be trained with a system that provides them with reliable feedback on their actual performance when training.
In this blog we will introduce you to the only system that satisfies tis need, while archiving the information for later review and/or research; CPR Mirror. CPR Mirror is a system using a compact sensor pod and software application to provide the best feedback to trainers and students anywhere in the world today. Using CPR Mirror will save lives.
Everyone has the same training
Two people are certified at the same time, by the same instructor to do Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Were both doing correct chest compressions? Does the CPR training they were given actually deliver the skills to rescuers that saves lives? What training methods are the most cost effective? What training methods work? In its current form CPR training lacks any accurate way of answering these questions or measuring its effectiveness on patient outcomes.
As a result, patients are dying while well intentioned, but inadequately trained responders are attempting CPR. Since 1966, when the National Science Foundation was first asked to validate CPR as a life-saving tool, these questions have nagged health science professionals and the lack of answers has created a barrier to truly understanding the effectiveness of CPR.
In order to improve a thing, you have to be able to measure it.
Measure performance and track CPR
CPR has been a staple of national and international emergency medicine for several decades. Countries have spent billions of dollars encouraging CPR training, much of it mandated by government requirements.
Yet, despite decades of effort to train citizens (lay responders) and medical professionals, CPR remains largely an inconsistent and inefficient tool. Survival rates have ranged consistently in the ten percent (10%) or less category for survival. The survival rate has not changed significantly since the establishment of CPR by the National Science Foundation in 1966.
Without an ability to accurately measure performance and track CPR data during training, and to deliver this data to professionals, they cannot adjust that training and thereby increase its effectiveness.
The CPR Mirror, a product in development by Arthur Jackson CTC will create a digital pathway from training to end of treatment to accurately evaluate CPRs impact on patient outcomes, and the cost effectiveness of training methods. For the first time society can look at the results of thousands of hours and billions of dollars spent each year on CPR training and start to determine what works and what doesn’t.
In short, the CPR Mirror will allow first responders and trainers to track their actions and adjust the training protocol for best patient outcomes, to save lives.
Why is it important?
Setting a uniform standard has been hampered by the lack of measurable data on training procedures and field performance, which results in an inability to understand the potential harm caused by inadequate training patient outcomes and cost. With CPR Mirror, trainers, clinicians and emergency personnel around the globe will for the first time have:
The cost-effective method of validating their training. Medical researchers will have a tool to determine the true effect of CPR on patient outcomes. They also will have a digital pathway from first patient contact to patient release to accurately determine CPR training impact.
A method that will allow doctors to collect digital data on a rescuer’s application of CPR as part of the real-time patient treatment.
A method for Companies required to have CPR trained personnel on site to have a digital record of the rescuer’s CPR training performance, with the actual data in CSV format for review.
A digital record of what they were trained to do and how they did it. Knowing what they were trained to do and how they applied it will allow clinicians complete information on what was done to the patient prior to arrival at the hospital.
And agencies such as OSHA will be able to understand just what the millions of dollars spent each year are paying for with a detailed digital report card on each student.
Suggested Solutions
Below is a reading from CPR Mirror in a class of fourteen students. What follows is a comparison of two students in this class.
In the sample from student A, the CPR compressions are at a maximum of 120 pounds as indicated on the tactile pressure scale (Y axis) and each compression goes back to zero as shown on the X axis for that student’s Compression. Returning to zero is vital. If it doesn’t, the student is in effect killing the person rather than saving them. The frequency is at 120 compressions/second also shown on the X axis.
Now look at the student marked B. Although this student is reaching the required maximum of 120 pounds as indicated on the Y axis, the white area at the bottom shows none of the compressions are returning to zero on the X axis. The patient’s heart cannot fully expand for oxygen transfer, and the patient is being killed.
To the human observer both students would appear to be doing correct CPR, but CPR Mirror will be able to detect the critical difference. The difference between living and dying.
Summary
Worldwide, there are more than 135 million cardiovascular deaths each year, and the prevalence of coronary heart disease is increasing. There is growing pressure for better validation to relate training to outcomes in the application of CPR, and to make more effective use of the billions spent on training. The CPR Mirror will result in thousands of lives and millions of dollars saved by identifying and eliminating ineffective and detrimental measures in training effectiveness. It will provide a true measure of the effect of CPR on the survivability of patients.
Don't forget to share this article!
Chat With Me
Back to top