TL;DR: CPR has evolved from the ABC method (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) to the CAB method (Compressions, Airway, Breathing) to prioritize chest compressions. This change helps circulate blood faster and makes the process easier to remember and perform. Learning the CAB method through CPR training can equip you with life-saving skills.
Over the years, CPR has proven to be a lifesaving procedure that everyone can use, from medical professionals to regular people with little to no medical experience. Though it might seem like a modern invention, CPR’s roots trace back to the 1700s when doctors made rudimentary efforts to restore breathing. However, modern medical experts first realized that anyone could perform CPR in 1960.
The CPR sequence most people are familiar with is the airway, breathing, and circulation (ABC) method. However, CPR continues to evolve as a technique, and today, the standard approach is known as the CAB method. But what does CAB stand for in CPR?
This article will break down the components of CAB – compressions, Airway, and Breathing – and explain why this shift from ABC occurred. Understanding this updated method can prepare you to act quickly and effectively in emergencies.
Why The Switch To CAB
To understand the switch to CAB in CPR, you must first know about the original ABC method: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. The ABC method focused on ensuring an open airway, delivering breaths, and performing chest compressions to provide oxygen to the lungs.
However, in 2010, the American Heart Association recommended switching to the CAB method. The change simplifies the resuscitation process and gets the victim’s blood circulating more quickly with chest compressions. Starting with compressions allows the oxygen in the blood to reach the brain and heart as soon as possible.
The transition also simplifies the process for laypersons, who may find it easier to begin with chest compressions rather than managing the airway and delivering breaths. This method is easier to remember and perform, encouraging more people to take action in emergencies.
What Does CAB Stand For?
CAB is an acronym that is essential to CPR. It stands for Compressions, Airway, and Breathing. This sequence prioritizes the most critical aspects of reviving someone who isn’t breathing or who doesn’t have a pulse.
It prioritizes the most straightforward step – compressions – to keep oxygen flowing and continues with the more complicated techniques of opening the airway and rescue breaths. Understanding each component of CAB can help you perform CPR more effectively.
Compressions (C)
Compressions are the first and most crucial step in CPR. They maintain blood circulation when the heart stops and can’t do its job. By performing chest compressions, you manually pump the heart, helping to circulate blood and deliver oxygen to the victim’s vital organs. To do correctly compress the chest, you must:
- Put one hand in the center of the chest with the heel down.
- Cover it with your other hand and interlock fingers for a steady grip.
- Push hard, reaching a depth of 2 inches in adults.
- Follow a steady rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
- Between compressions, allow for complete recoil of the chest so the heart can fill with blood again.
Airway (A)
After establishing a rhythm with chest compressions, the next step is to keep the airway open. If the airways are obstructed in any way, oxygen will not reach the lungs, even if you perform rescue breaths correctly. To open the airway, you must:
- Tilt the victim’s head by gently pushing their forehead back.
- Use your other hand to lift the chin upward, which prevents the tongue from blocking the back of the throat.
Be mindful of common obstacles that can hinder an open airway, such as foreign objects, swelling, or the victim’s tongue falling back into the throat. If you suspect a foreign object is blocking the airway, you may need to perform additional maneuvers to remove it before doing rescue breaths.
Breathing (B)
The final step in the CAB sequence is breathing. Rescue breaths deliver oxygen directly to the victim’s lungs, especially when the victim is not breathing independently. In combination with chest compression, this is the best chance a victim has to pull through without serious neurological damage.
To provide rescue breaths, you must:
- Pinch the victim’s nose shut to prevent air from escaping.
- Give a breath and keep it going for at least 1 second.
- Watch for the chest to rise, indicating air is in the lungs.
- If the chest doesn’t rise, reposition the head and try again.
- Give two rescue breaths between cycles of chest compressions.
It’s best to do 30 compressions followed by two breaths and continue this cycle until professional help arrives or the victim starts to show signs of life.
Why Knowing CAB Is Important
If you’re ever in a situation that requires you to perform CPR, you must do it immediately because every minute without it reduces a victim’s chance of survival by about 7%. Time is of the essence, and knowing the CAB sequence helps you be effective with your efforts and act decisively.
Even if you’re sure you can do the entire CAB sequence, studies show that just doing chest compressions can make a significant difference. Proper technique can simplify and make the process more effective, but don’t let uncertainty hold you back. If you’re uncomfortable with rescue breaths or other techniques, focus on hand-only compressions.
Steps To Take Before Starting CPR
CPR is the second step on the chain of survival, and before starting, you must recognize if someone is having a medical emergency. Look for signs like unresponsiveness, abnormal breathing, or the absence of breathing.
Check for responsiveness, and if there is none, call 911 immediately or ask someone nearby to do it. Check if the area around the victim is safe to avoid further harm to them or yourself. If the person is not breathing or only gasping, begin CPR and keep going until the ambulance arrives.
Learn CAB WIth CPR Training and Certification
Enrolling in CPR training is the fastest and most effective way to become proficient in CAB and feel confident in your ability to use it. Find a local organization in Chesapeake aligned with the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross, as they always teach correct and updated resuscitation techniques.
These courses will teach you more than just the proper technique needed for chest compressions and rescue breaths. You will also learn all about AEDs, as well as how to adapt your technique for adults and children, as the procedures vary slightly depending on the individual’s age and size.
Basic first aid is another component of these courses, providing you with the skills to handle various emergencies beyond cardiac events. This comprehensive approach prepares you for many situations, improving your ability to act when every second counts.
Know Your ABCs and Your CABs
Understanding the CAB method in CPR makes it easier for bystanders to perform CPR effectively. This approach prioritizes chest compressions to maintain blood flow, followed by airway management and rescue breaths. With proper technique and incorporating all three steps, you can help someone who’s experiencing cardiac arrest live another day.
Don’t wait until something bad happens to acquire these skills. Enroll in a CPR training course in Chesapeake, Virginia, to gain confidence and hands-on experience. Remember that with just a few short classes, you can gain the skills needed to save lives. Knowing your C-A-B can make you a hero, so schedule a class today!