Astronauts will not call an ambulance into orbit, so the ISS crew has to fend for themselves. Resuscitation in space is not easy at all and requires literally standing on your head.
When the nearest paramedic is more than 400 km from you – knowledge of CPR is a must. Therefore, the entire crew of the International Space Station must be perfectly trained in first aid and especially be able to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation … without gravity.
NASA problem – normal resuscitation in space does not work
Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, who is currently aboard the ISS, shared an interesting video on social media. It shows how to help a person with circulatory problems.
As we are taught on Earth, for CPR we must use our body weight to perform compressions on a person lying on the floor. However, only microgravity reigns on the space station. The victim could “float away” during the rescue operation, and the weight of our body … is practically absent. We just push ourselves away from the person we help.
How to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation in space?
NASA has solved these problems, and there are several ways to deal with an emergency. First, the resuscitation bed is always available and deployed in the appropriate module of the ISS. It is also equipped with appropriate straps that are used to secure the patient.
The rescuer has two methods to choose from. He can also use the straps to get into a lateral kneeling position, as if he were performing CPR on the ground. However, Cristoforetti notes that it is easiest for her to stand “upside down” above the patient and lightly push off the wall of the module with her feet. Of course, there is no “up and down” in space, but the situation still looks pretty extreme.
The rest of the procedure is the same. After 30 compressions, make sure the airway is clear and give 2 artificial breaths.
Source: Wprost
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