ZOLL Is the Difference Between Life and Death

ZOLL pads capture the rate and depth of compressions and feed this information back to the device. If compressions aren’t the correct depth, the device will give a visual and audio prompt instructing the user to “push harder”. An audible metronome will help the user maintain the right tempo of compressions. The AED will also tell you when to stop or continue CPR when needed.

Why is correct CPR so important?

Correct CPR is key to helping someone recover from sudden cardiac arrest. The heart has stopped pumping blood around the body, and cells will begin dying in minutes. CPR plays a critical role in maintaining blood flow to vital organs during cardiac arrest until more definitive treatment, like defibrillation, can be administered.

In cases of sudden cardiac arrest, survival rates are higher when CPR is initiated quickly, as it can "prime" the heart, making defibrillation more effective in restoring a normal rhythm. Survival and neurological outcomes are significantly improved with early bystander CPR combined with defibrillation rather than defibrillation alone.

However, CPR has to be done correctly for it to work. Despite CPR being the primary treatment for cardiac arrest, bystanders' understanding and willingness to perform CPR are low. One systematic review on CPR performed by bystanders looked at the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of bystanders in performing CPR on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims.

Key findings identified major challenges, including insufficient CPR knowledge among the general public, reluctance to perform CPR on strangers, and barriers such as fear of performing the technique incorrectly. Willingness and self-efficacy—bystanders' confidence in their ability to administer CPR—were crucial factors affecting intervention rates when someone collapses.

Another study on the quality and efficiency of bystander CPR found that long-term survival was highest in cases with correct bystander CPR (16%), while cases without bystander CPR had a 7% survival rate, while incorrectly performed bystander CPR resulted in a 4% survival rate. This study also examined how CPR increased the chance of ventricular fibrillation (a shockable rhythm). Without any bystander CPR, ventricular fibrillation was present in 28% of cases. With correct CPR, this increased to 45%. 

This is where Real CPR Help® can be a literal lifesaver: giving live feedback which helps the person know exactly when they’re not pushing hard enough or fast enough. Many people don’t push hard enough in CPR, concerned they will break a rib or hurt the casualty. In reality, you must push to a depth of at least two inches, applying 100–125lb of force. You could break a rib, but this isn’t unusual, and you’re still advised to carry on despite a broken rib.

Another piece of equipment that makes bystanders more willing to perform CPR with rescue breaths is a resusciade. This thin shield covers the victim's mouth to prevent direct physical contact and protect against infection risk.