Abstract
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is an important component of the pre-hospital emergency care process. Location of the correct site for application of compression in External Cardiac Compression is crucial if patients are not to be exposed to the risk of iatrogenic injury. The procedures approved by the Australian Resuscitation Council for locating the correct site are described as well as a concern that one of these methods (the caliper method) depends on the relation between patients’ sternum length and the palm width of the rescuer. The purpose of this study was to measure palm widths and compare these to sternum lengths to determine the likelihood that using the caliper method would result in pressure being applied over the xiphoid process. Results indicated that, using the most conservative comparison, such pressure would be applied in 97% of instances, if the rescuer strictly adhered to the caliper method for locating the correct site. It is recommended that the caliper method be removed as an approved procedure.
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