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The earliest form of resuscitation that is recorded is from the early ages when would-be rescuers would actually whip the victim in an attempt to stimulate some type of response. Apparently, they didn't care what the response was - just that they tried to get one! In the 1500s, it was not uncommon to use a bellows from a fireplace to blow hot air and smoke into the victim's mouth, and this continued for the next 300 years. In 1829, it was found that this distension of the lungs by bellows could kill an animal so this practice was discontinued.
It was then thought that warm was equivalent to life and cold was associated with death so these types of “inner warming” were practiced. In the 1700s, a new method of resuscitation was used, involving blowing tobacco smoke into the victim's rectum. This was an alternative used until 1811 when it was found that this use of tobacco could also kill animals. Other methods of warming that were tried were burying victims in warm sand, lighting a fire near the victim, placing the body in a warm bath or placing the body in bed with one or two volunteers.
Other methods were developed in response to the leading cause of sudden death at that time, which was drowning. The inversion method involved hanging the victim by their feet, with chest pressure to aid in expiration and pressure release to aid in inspiration. This was sometimes accompanied by applying manual pressure to the abdomen to eliminate swallowed water.
Another method of resuscitation was known as bloodletting, where the victim was cut and allowed to bleed. The thought was that the blood was ineffective and needed to be removed from the system.
Other methods of trying to “wake up” the victim included yelling, slapping and even whipping. In 1773, the victim was placed on a large wine barrel and alternately rolled back and forth to force air in and out of the chest. In 1803, the Russians attempted resuscitation by reducing the body's metabolism by freezing the body under a layer of snow and ice. In 1812, the lifeguard stations were equipped with a horse. When a victim was rescued from the water, the lifeguards would hoist the victim onto the horse and run the horse up and down the beach as a form of chest compressions against the bouncing body of the horse. The “Citizens for Clean Beaches” organized, and the horses were banned in 1815.
Another manual method of compression/relaxation was undertaken in which the victim was rolled from stomach to side 16 times a minute. In addition, pressure was applied to the victim's back while the victim was prone.
By 1892, other methods of resuscitation were being used, such as stretching the rectum (don't ask!), rubbing the body, tickling the throat with a feather and waving strong salts under the victim's nose. The French were practicing a method known as tongue stretching, where the rescuer would hold the victim's mouth open while pulling the tongue forcefully and rhythmically.
It wasn't until the 1950s when mouth-to-mouth resuscitation was practiced on a widespread basis. This training was expanded to lifeguard personnel in the 1960s. Also in the 1960s, the closed chest massage was added to the ventilation steps to move the oxygenated blood to the brain. In 1973, it was thought that the American population should learn this method of resuscitation.
If you have ever taken a CPR class, you may find that some of the techniques have changed over the past several years. One of the major changes is getting the public to understand and use automated external defibrillators (AEDs) when available. Currently, it is suggested that compressions should be stopped for no more than five seconds for any reason, and the ideal rate of compressions is believed to be 100 beats per minute.
Why not take a current CPR class to refresh yourself if you are not currently certified in CPR? If you have taken a class recently, go online to the American Heart Association or American Red Cross Web sites and take a look at their simple instructions available from your home computer as a refresher.
Tom Kiurski is training coordinator for the Livonia Fire Department.
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