March 2006

Performing Cough CPR has been a suggested intervention for the victim in cardiac arrest to cough forcefully just prior to losing consciousness.

Theoretically, cough CPR may be effective because coughing increases intra-thoracic pressure and generates blood flow to the brain to maintain consciousness.  However these conditions are only present during the first 10 – 15 seconds of a cardiac arrest and assume that the victim knows that he/she is in the process of having a cardiac arrest.

Recommendations:

1. Cough CPR is limited to clinical situations when the person’s cardiac rhythm is monitored and the impending arrest is recognized by a health care professional before the person becomes unresponsive.
2. The HSFC does NOT teach cough CPR.
3. The best strategy is to recognize the warning signals of a heart attack and react by calling 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.