VOA Special English

Recently, the American Heart Association amended its advice about aiding a person suspected of suffering a heart attack. The group says the amendments resulted because studies show that the changed way could be more effective. It also could make people more willing to attempt rescue efforts.

VOICE ONE:

The new American Heart Association method is called "Hands-Only C.P.R." The group tells how to recognize a person needing C.P.R. The group says the person has collapsed. The patient is unconscious -- unable to communicate or react to surroundings or speech. His or her skin has lost color. The person is not breathing. If such conditions describe the situation, chances are the heart has stopped beating.

The American Heart Association directs advice to people unwilling or unable to perform rescue breathing. Some people fear infection. Others say they are afraid of making the patient worse.

VOICE TWO:

But the lead writer of one of the studies of C.P.R. says a person cannot be worse than dead. Doctor Michael Sayre works at Ohio State University. He strongly urges people in contact with a victim to take action.

Doctor Sayre says call for help, or send someone else. Even if you cannot do mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing, you can perform Hands-Only C.P.R. You can do chest compressions that help to keep blood flowing to the brain, heart and other organs.

To perform the compressions, place one hand over the other and press firmly on the center of the victim's chest. Push down about five centimeters. Aim for one hundred compressions per minute. But Doctor Sayre says you do not need a measuring stick or a timing device.

VOICE ONE:

If the heart does not start beating, continue with chest compressions until help arrives. For a choking victim who is unconscious with no heartbeat, clear the airway first. Then do chest compressions.

Doctor Sayre still suggests that health experts do both the breathing method and chest compressions. He says some victims, including babies, need the mouth-to-mouth breathing with the compressions. Still, the doctor says it is better to do just chest compressions than to do nothing.

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