Bystander CPR and survival

Leong BSH
Correspondence: Dr Benjamin Leong, benjamin_sh_leong@nuhs.edu.sg

ABSTRACT
Despite years of medical advances, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) remains the most important factor in the saving of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims. However, the prevalence of bystander CPR remains low. New international recommendations, which aim to increase bystander CPR prevalence, allow for hands-only CPR under certain circumstances. More should be done to increase the awareness and training of CPR in Singapore as well as encourage the public to perform bystander CPR.

Keywords: bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, cardiocerebral resuscitation, hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation, sudden cardiac death
Singapore Med J 2011; 52(8): 573-575