CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscltation)
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscltation) can be essential in improving cardiac arrest survivability. However, recent studies have shown that minority groups, compared to the white population, have a much lower survivability rate. Why is this? Are there any steps we can take to improve this? And why is CPR so critical to the survivability of cardiac arrest? These are the questions this article aims to explore and answer.
It should be noted that CPR is also known as Basic Life Support (BLS), and both abbreviations are used in this article interchangeably.
What is Bystander CPR
Bystander CPR is when a non-specialist or non-med1cal professlonal gives someone CPR. It can be done by anyone in the home and in public.
What is cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops pumplng blood into the body, this means that oxygen is prevented from flowing into the brain causing it to become oxygen starved.
What causes cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest is caused by abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), and while not all arrhythmia is life-threatening, some can cause cardiac arrest. Blood clots, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart diseases is also a cause of cardiac arrest.
Keep in mind that cardiac arrests and heart attacks are not the same. Cardiac arrest symptoms:
The signs that someone is suffering from cardiac arrest are:
- The person has collapsed
- They are unconscious and
- They are not breathing/breathing
- They don’t have a pulse
Cardiac arrest can be life-threatening, so bystander CPR must be administered to patients. But what is bystander CPR?
Bystander CPR’s importance:
According to a 2020 Swedish study, a person’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest goes from 6.7% to 16% if CPR is administered by a bystander. The UK Resuscitation Council states that 72% of cardiac arrest occur in the home. However, in comparison to their white counterparts minority groups are less likely to be trained in CPR and more likely to suffer from cardiac arrest.
Minorities and cardiac arrest:
It has been well-known since the 80s that there are disparities in the chances of dying of cardiac arrest for racial minorities. This is due to various factors, namely racial discrimination, a lack of ti’ust in medical institutions, concerns about immigration status, and socioeconomic issues. Therefore, it is crucial for minority groups to be trained in CPR.
1st generation South Asians living in the UK have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, which can lead to cardiac arrest. Black Africans and Black Caribbeans have
a higher chance of SCD (sudden cardiac death) and are less likely to survive hospital visits. But there aren’t just racial disparities but gender disparities as well.
The risk of SCD was especially high for black women. This is because not only are they potentially vulnerable to a sub-form of SCD, but as women, they are less li1‹ely to receive bystander CPR than men due to the fear of inappropriately touching a woman’s chest area.
Considering that Black and Hispanic people are 3S% less likely to receive bystander CPR in public (due to bystanders assuming that they are inebriated) and 26% less likely to receive it at home (due to a lack of training in CPR ), it is no wonder that this is one factors contributing to the racial disparity. So, what can we do to reduce this gap?
What should we do?
The above studies indicate that multiple factors could reduce this racial disparity, but the main one, which is the focus of this article, is educatlon.
A 2019 study found that education and income contributed to 65% of the racial disparity. This is why educating people on how to conduct bystander CPR is critical to closing this gap.
The study also indicated that low-cost training on BLS/CPR in minority communities is crucial in closing this racial gap. This is why Naijaid is committed to the preservation and health of ethnic minorities both living in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa. We aim to embark on a campaign to train 1000 members of minority ethnic groups and offer free Basic Life Support (BLS) preparation to save lives.
Therefore, we call on all minority ethnic groups to partner with us! We will train up to 20 of their staff for free.
Please get in touch with us at info@naijaid.com for more information.
