When you do C.P.R. on a person do you really have to break their ribs?

Question

thats what i heard from people. but it seemed kinda odd. and im planning to be a life guard someday so yeah i needa know this.

Answer 1

It shouldn't break their ribs but is possible.  It usually causes some separation of cartilage from the bones that will go away.

Answer 2

No you dont have to break someone ribs to do CPR, but in most cases it does happen, trust me if you can get through the first time without freaking out you really dont pay attention to it after that.

Answer 3

Only if you are doing it correctly (only kind of true).  The force needed to compress the heart between the sternum and spinal cord is pretty intense.  You have to compress the chest cavity in pretty deep to provide enough pressure to circulate the blood (along with O2 and medications). That pressure is sufficient to break ribs, but ideally wouldn't yet doesn't matter when someone is coding.

Answer 4

No, you do not purposefully break their ribs.  In fact, ideally you wouldn't break anything at all.  You might seperate ribs from the cartilage of the sternum, but properly done CPR doesn't always break ribs.  Anyway, breaking ribs is the least of the worries.  People in cardiac arrest will also be more likely to barf- and it's you clearing the airway.  That will make you very glad for the barrier mask, trust me.  Last person I helped with had chili dogs for lunch.  URK.

Answer 5

Well They don't always break but there is a possibility that they will break.

Answer 6

no you dont have too, but alot of times you do