At OC Safety, it’s our job to provide everyone in and around Orange County, CA with the CPR certification needed to treat patients in emergency situations. CPR is a lifesaving, but intense procedure that requires chest compressions to resuscitate a patient. When performing chest compressions, it’s suggested that each compression be about two inches (five centimeters) deep. Now, if you stop to think about it, you’ll probably realize that pushing two inches deep into a person’s chest seems extreme and way beyond what a person would be used to. And it is. Pushing that deep may even lead to a scary situation where you hear a patient’s rib break.
What Should I Do If There’s a Rib Break?
Keep going. It’s as simple as that, no matter how unsettling it may be. Sure, broken ribs hurt…a lot…and your patient will likely feel that pain when he or she gets up. However, everyone would agree that the preferred option is to have a broken rib and still be alive. Patients understand what’s at stake when CPR has to be performed and there’s almost zero cases of them significantly complaining about what had to be done. It may be worrisome to feel a rib break, but this is actually completely normal. It’s estimated that about 30 percent of patients will end up with a fractured or broken rib after proper CPR is performed.
Are All Patients at Risk for Broken Bones?
While all patients are at risk for broken bones, there are some people who are more at risk than others. These include:
- Skinnier patients
- Older patients
- Patients suffering from osteoporosis
- Patients whose CPR provider is someone with a lot of upper body strength
Contact Your Orange County, CA CPR Certification Providers Today!
If you have any further questions about CPR, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We at OC Safety are glad to help you in any way we can. If you’d like to sign up for any of the classes that we offer, you can do so online or by giving us a call at (714) 960-1911. We can’t wait to help you on your path to CPR certification!