CPR for 15 mins ,dont know outcome ,airlifted to hospital

[peridito]

Brother in 70's . Friend gave CPR . He must be gone ,don't you think ?
Anyone know if the airlifting might indicate that there was some thought that he might survive ?

[inforapennyinforapug]

Oh I’m so sorry they wouldn’t have airlifted him if he had already passed away though, so there is hope

[peridito]

oh ,thank you for that .I can't think straight .

15 mins for CPR seems such a long time .

[inforapennyinforapug]

Have you got anyone with you? It is a long time, but if the friend was able to start CPR straight away then that’s positive. Are you local to him?

[BoreOfWhabylon]

There must be some hope, or they wouldn't have transported him. There would have been no hope without the CPR

[Jonoula]

There’s a story in my local paper about a painter who collapsed in the street, a passing police officer gave him cpr for 30 mins and he survived. Fingers crossed for you

[SameToo]

Fingers crossed for you

[Looneytune253]

Also bear in mind that CPR isn't like it is in the movies. You're (most of the time) just keeping the heart going until it can be restarted properly. Usually by a paramedic etc. So the fact it was 15 mins isn't necessarily a bad thing

[BernardsarenotalwaysSaints]

Don't lose hope, as pp has said they wouldn't have airlifted if he were gone. They think they can help so they've taken him the quickest way possible.

[Janek]

My understanding is that CPR keeps you going until medical help arrives, so 15 mins of CPR means that's how long it took for medical backup to arrive, not 'he had 15 mins of CPR to no avail'.

[peridito]

Oh thank you so much all of you .He was out walking ,his friend is very competent ,sort of person you would want in these circumstances .

Poor friend ,she has had to go by car to hospital . I hope someone else drove her .

Not local no .

[SecretIdentitee]

My mother collapsed and her partner gave her CPR for almost half an hour till the ambulance arrived. They apparently 'lost' her twice in the ambulance by the time they reached the hospital. That was 7 years ago and she is fine was in hospital for about 2 weeks and it was at least 3 days before we know she would make it and another couple before they know there was no brain damage etc.
Worrying time but there can be good outcomes.

[peridito]

Thank you secret ,good to know .Bless you all for posting .

[OchonAgusOchonO]

@peridito - 15 mins for CPR seems such a long time

15 minutes is nothing for CPR. You are very unlikely to restart the heart with CPR. TV and films are totally unrealistic in that regard. Using an AED might work but CPR is, in most cases, purely about keeping blood and oxygen moving until the heart can be restarted.

Dd is a lifeguard and has had to do CPR a couple of times. She says they don't expect CPR to revive on its own.

[Xuli]

I'm so sorry, everything crossed for you

[peridito]

It's the not knowing of course . Brain damage would be a terrible outcome .

[PurpleMustang]

Sorry to hear this. They would not have moved him until he was stable enough, ie had restarted his heart. You will find out at some point what happened. Would have been either a cardiac arrest on its own or something like a heart attack and then the cardiac arrest. Once at the hospital will be assessed to see how to fix the reason and maybe put into an induced coma to help with recovery, to then be woken up at a point. With regards to the 15 mins, it is just unfortunately a waiting game to see how this could of damaged the brain. Many are fine, just lose memory of around time this all happened. Others suffer more loss of memory. Only 8% survive an out of hospital arrest so has been incredibly lucky already. There is a Sudden Cardiac UK Facebook page which has a mountain of information on for survivors and family. Can help with information on all sorts including how long he may not be able to drive for. Hope he recovers well

[peridito]

Ochon and Purple I'm so grateful to you for posting with information .thank you so much ..

What is AED ?

[PurpleMustang]

Sorry that should of read Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK

[PurpleMustang]

AED is the defibrillator

[MarthaHanson]

A friend was kept alive with CPR for 15 minutes by a passing nurse who saw him collapse in the street, until the ambulance arrived. After some time in surgery and recovery he is now back to full health, so these terrible situations can have good outcomes. I hope your brother makes a full recovery OP.

[OchonAgusOchonO]

@peridito - sorry. It's the defibrillator.

[PurpleMustang]

Wish this thing had an edit! Once the heart has gone into cardiac arrest technically it needs a defibrillator to 'reset' it. I was told in actual theory the heart doesn't stop but shakes and stops working, so needs the defib to jump start. Bit like a car. It is nothing like you see on telly.

[purplecorkheart]

I gave CPR to a man for 15 minutes before we could get a diffilator brought to us. Ambulance was another 15 mins. I go for dinner with this man and his family every year on as he calls it his second birthday.

[BernardsarenotalwaysSaints]

Yes, waiting is always horrible at times like this.

[peridito]

Guess who's sitting here promising the universe that they'll learn how to perform CPR .