When you do CPR do you have to break the ribs? ...I'm suddenly really curious.?

Answer 1

Only if you don't like the person.

Coach

Answer 2

I have never done CPR on a person that i did not break a rib. American Heart Association (AHA) Recommends that you press approx. 2"-3" deep on compressions which requires much force. It is a life over limb matter. The person is dead otherwise you would not be doing CPR. They would be happier I'm sure to live with broken ribs than to die because the depth of your compressions didn't provide adequate profusion to their tissues. AHA is actually starting to suggest even faster and deeper (current guidelines recommend 100 compressions per minute) so yes it is VERY normal to break ribs with correct CPR. I just performed it about 5 and a half hours ago and sure enough... I'm not saying that you should be barbaric and by no means should you use rib breakage as a guideline to the proficiency of your CPR but the fact is the ribs attach directly to the lateral sides of the sternum and WILL break in most cases.

Answer 3

Breaking a rib is not what has to be done. A rib may be broken especially if the rescuer is not in the right place. A broken rib will heal, but you must be very careful if a rib is broken during CPR. Sharp bone edges could puncture the heart.

Often you will hear someone talk about "cracking" the patient that refers to the sound the cartilage makes as it gives way It does tear.

CPR and Shocking someone with an automated Defibrillator is nothing like seen on TV or movies. It is a very brutal act that is necessary to try to save someone's life. It wouldn't hurt to look into taking a CPR course. You will learn so much in there and will be equipped with the knowledge to help if needed.

Answer 4

ok wow people are naieve.... yes 99% of the time you will break ribs because while performing CPR on an adult you are supposed to compress the chest 1-2 inches and eventually you will end up breaking the persons ribs... I have performed CPR countless times because I am an EMT you will most likely break the persons ribs if you are doing CPR correctly... if you dont break their ribs how are you putting enough pressure on their heart to restart it? But unfortunatly most of the time CPR is not enough to save someones life and they need an AED as well which is an electric shock that restarts their heart (and sometimes this doesnt work either) But to answer your question yes you will MOST LIKELY break the persons ribs if you perform CPR correctly.

Answer 5

No! You shouldn't break the ribs if you are correctly performing CPR. The ribs are attached the the sternum with cartilage which bends. This allows your ribs to expand and contract as you breathe and move, so CPR just takes advantage of this natural movement. CPR is simply pressing down on the rib cage so push on the heart and then administering breathing via the mouth of the person.

Answer 6

No you don't have to break the ribs when doing CPR. Most of the time the cracking sound is the xiphoid process. Happens alot when doing CPR on older people that have brittle bones.

Answer 7

I have taken alot of CPR classes and most of my teachers told me that sometimes it can happen think about the pressure that your applying and you know what i would be thankful for someone breaking my rib to save my life.

Answer 8

Excuse me, folks, but ah, yes, ribs can and do frequently break during CPR! Of course, you are trying to save this person's life by restarting the heart, a few broken ribs will be the least of their worries.....if they survive. I taught CPR, community safety and professional rescue for the American Red Cross for many years. It doesn't happen all the time, but it DOES happen. (Especially in the very young or the elderly....)


http://library.thinkquest.org/10624/cpr.html


Some unpleasant CPR facts: One should remember that CPR is almost never successful. When a victims heart is restarted, it is usually due to the arrival of more professional equipment, for example, a defibrillator, which electrically shocks the heart into starting again. (These are familiar to most people who watch ER as those paddles that Carter got shocked with, and as those things whose use is usually preceeded by the word "CLEAR!") Also, in the course of CPR, the victim's ribs are almost invariably broken. This is why the Good Samaritan Act is so important; if you break someone's ribs in trying to save their life, they can't survive and $ue you for your college tuition. Of course, we must not forget that the Good Samaritan Act is only in effect if you are Officially Certified!! (Hint: Get certified, buddy, because if you're not, you're outta luck.)


And here is a link for official online EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) text regarding CPR:

http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/ems/pdf/cprmod.pdf

Answer 9

Why would you HAVE to break the ribs? It does happen sometimes but not because they had to be broken. They just break from the pressure that is applied and also if CPR is done wrong it can break ribs.

Answer 10

If done properly, CPR will not break ribs unless a pre-existing problem caused the bones to be brittle-e.g. age, osteoporosis, steroid use.
sglmom-it does happen, despite the best technique in the world. You ARE pressing firmly on someone's ribs,after all.

Answer 11

No, you don't need to break the ribs. Sometimes in the process of performing chest compressions, the ribs will seperate from the sternum.