| Frequently Asked Questions - by Laypeople |
1. How does CPREzy-Mask protect the rescuer?
CPREzy-Mask has a one-way valve that protects the rescuer from any vomit, blood or saliva that may be blown back into the tube during mouth-to-mask resuscitation. |
2. Is a filter necessary in the valve and does CPREzy-Mask have one?
The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation does not specify a filter as a requirement. However if a filter does become a requirement the CPREzy-Mask is equipped to add this additional component. |
3. Can CPREzy-Mask be cleaned?
It is our recommendation that the mask cushion be cleaned and soaked in a 1:50 solution of bleach. The mouthpiece, including the one-way valve, can be cleaned and reused after manikin use but should be discarded after actual CPR on a patient. |
4. Is CPREzy a substitute to formal CPR training?
CPREzy is not a substitute to formal CPR training. The CPREzy Mask and CPREzy Pad have been designed to assist, enhance and simplify the CPR process. They are tools to help maximise the efforts of a rescuer in CPR. We recommend that all persons complete a formal CPR course. |
5. Where should the CPREzy-Pad be placed on the chest?
The recommended compression point is the mid-line over the lower half of the sternum. One way to find this region is to place your fingers on the lower margin of the victim’s ribs, then slide your fingers up the rib cage to the notch where the ribs meet the lower sternum. The CPREzy Pad is then placed over the lower half of the sternum, facing the patients head. |
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6. What is the battery tester?
There is an inbuilt battery tester within CPREzy that performs an automatic check of the battery each time the unit is switched on. The (3) sharp tones means the battery is OK. Three (3) low tones and a flashing red light means the battery is low and should be replaced at the earliest opportunity. The battery must be replaced once a year or sooner if indicated by the battery tester.
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7. What do you do if the CPREzy-Pad does not work?
If the indicator lights fail, administer manual CPR. If the audible tone fails, continue to administer chest compressions using the CPREzy-Pad at approximately 100 compressions per minute. If the battery is flat, administer standard manual chest compressions until another person can replace the battery. In the unlikely event of service problems, contact your nearest distributor. For all servicing problems, contact your nearest distributor. |
8. How do I know how much to compress the sternum?
Correct chest compressions are the most important part of CPR. The CPREzy-Pad has been calibrated to provide a visual indication of the correct pressure for patients in different weight categories. The rescuer must estimate the approximate size of a patient and ensure that the corresponding light for the patient's weight illuminates during chest compression. It is important that correct vertical pressure is applied to the CPREzy-Pad and that all the lights go out between compressions. This assists with adequate compression and maintains blood flow to vital organs. |
9. Is rate of chest compression important?
The rate that chest compressions are applied is also a most important part of successful CPR. The CPREzy Pad emits a 100 beats/min audible tone to make it easy to synchronise chest compression with the correct rate, helping to maximise the effectiveness of CPR and provide blood flow to the vital organs. |
10. How many compressions will one battery provide?
One battery is capable of approximately 50,000 compressions or 8 hours of continuous use. |
11. What is the temperature range of the unit?
The CPREzy-Mask and CPREzy-Pad can be used in a temperature range of minus Twenty (-20) Degrees to Sixty (+60) Degrees Celsius (-40F to +1400F). |
12. Is CPREzy-Pad waterproof?
No! The unit is not water proof and the CPREzy Pad should not be immersed in water.
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13. Can I practice CPR on anybody?
No! Use the CPREzy-Pad and CPREzy-Mask only on a manikin for practice. The CPREzy-Pad should only be used on a patient who is apparently dead with cardiorespiratory arrest (ie not breathing and no signs of a circulation). |
14. Can CPREzy Pad be used on infants or children?
The CPREzy Pad has been designed to be used on children greater than 40kg or 90lb (approximately 8 years of age). It is not suitable for use on children under this weight. |
15. How accurate is the calibration of CPREzy Pad?
The force of compression is accurate to +/- 5%. |
16. Is it important to allow the lights to go off between compressions?
Yes - it is important to allow the full release of pressure between compressions to allow the heart chambers fill with blood. This is essential for effective CPR. |
17. How is CPREzy Pad able to improve chest compressions compared to standard manual CPR?
The CPREzy-Pad distributes the pressure evenly over the lower sternum to reduce the chance of injury and, through a series of calibrated lights, assists the rescuer to apply correct chest compressions at a consistent rate and force. |
18. After cardiopulmonary arrest, how long does it take for brain damage to occur?
The organ most sensitive to oxygen deprivation is the brain and unless effective chest compressions are administered within the first 4 minutes of a cardiac arrest, brain damage or death can result.
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19. What is Resuscitation?
Resuscitation is the preservation or restoration of life by the maintenance of the airway, and support of breathing and circulation by artificial means. |
20. What is the objective of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)?
The aim of CPR is to preserve life by maintaining an adequate supply of oxygen to the heart and brain. Effective CPR prolongs a person’s chance of survival until either a defibrillator arrives and can be used to shock the heart back into its normal rhythm or advanced professional life support is available. |
21. Can CPR, with the CPREzy, be applied in all life threatening situations?
The basic principles of CPR are the same in all situations that result in a person becoming unconscious from: |
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Airway obstruction |
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Drug overdose |
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Electric shock |
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Head injury |
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Heart attack |
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Near drowning |
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Smoke inhalation |
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Suffocation |
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22. How important is the airway in the unconscious patient?
In the unconscious patient, clearance of the airway takes precedence over any other injury, including the possibility of a spinal injury.
All unconscious patients must be handled gently with no undue twisting or forward or backward movement of the head or neck.
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23. What are the main causes of obstruction of the airway?
The most common cause of airway obstruction in an unconscious patient lying on his back is due to the relaxed tongue falling back to obstruct the airway. Head tilt and chin lift are paramount procedures to provide a clear airway in mouth-to mouth resuscitation. |
24. I have a defibrillator, do I need to perform CPR?
Yes! The performance of CPR while awaiting the arrival of a defibrillator is absolute essential for the preservation of heart and brain function. |
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| Frequently Asked Questions - by Healthcare Professionals and First Aid Trainers |
1. The CPREzy-pad seems very tall, would it be unstable, and inclined to roll over?
The CPREzy-pad has been deliberately designed in this way. The unit is only unstable if pressure is applied at any angle other than perpendicular to the patient’s sternum. This design feature therefore encourages the rescuer to deliver chest compressions correctly and therefore effectively |
2. When I use the unit it seems to be quite noisy and there seems to be undue resistance – is this right?
Again the noise, and the feeling of plastic scraping against plastic, are symptoms of incorrect hand positioning and/or the chest compressions not being perpendicular. These are design features included to encourage correct and effective compressions. |
3. My thumb seems to overlap the “gap” and this causes irritation.
It is important to note that hands should be positioned correctly so that the centre of pressure being applied is over the point on the CPREzy-pad that says “COMPRESS HERE”. This point is not the centre of the lower part of the pad but is actually closer to the end of the unit. If pressure is applied at this point most people’s hands fit comfortably on the pad and the thumb does not overlap the gap. |
4. Does the CPREzy-pad stay in position when being used on a perspiring chest?
This is a common issue with manual chest compressions and the CPREzy-pad has been designed with a nitrile grip to minimise slippage. However, in extreme cases, just as with manual chest compressions, it might be necessary to first wipe the patient’s sternum with a towel. |
5. Can the CPREzy-pad be left in position during defibrillation?
The CPREzy-pad should be picked up and removed from the chest as the rescuer removes his/her own hands before defibrillation. |
6. I’m well trained (or I’m a trainer) and can perform CPR very well, why do I need CPREzy?
It is well accepted that, despite commonly held beliefs, skill loss is a major issue. Without CPREzy there is no way for a rescuer to confirm that he/she is doing chest compressions correctly.
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7. As a training aid is it any different to other, existing training aids with feedback lights?
CPREzy-pad has used the concept of feedback lights that has been available for some time in certain training manikins. However, this feature, together with the metronome beep, has been incorporated into a unit that is positioned at exactly the point where the rescuer is focussing – not a metre or so away. The CPREzy is competitively priced and is better value than other training aids that offer similar benefits, but the CPREzy is much more than a training aid and has been developed for use in a real life cardiac arrest situation. |
8. Does the CPREzy-pad ever need recalibrating?
100 beats per minute: The rate is derived from an electronic oscillator called a ceramic resonator running at 4,000,000 cycles per second that is accurate to within 1% as required by the CPREzy pad specification. Therefore no calibration of the frequency is required. Force Calibration: The springs are made of AS1472-R2 steel, which is a ferrous material. The maximum stress is 525 Mpa, which results in a fatigue life well over 5,000,000 cycles. If the pad were to be used on a patient every week for 45 minutes the 5,000,000 cycles would be reached in 20 years. The pad itself would not be expected to outlast the springs. Spring fatigue failure is characterised by rapid degradation right near the end of life as a fatigue crack propagates through the material. There is not a gradual degradation of spring characteristics. |
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Also, please note that occasionally trainers, and others, raise instinctive comments that, when further discussed, can be categorised as issues that need to be dealt with by a small amount of training, and often simply reflect concerns over accepting change. When confronted with a new concept and a new idea this reaction is not completely surprising.
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