CPR First Aid The Pistol Grip

First Aiders should use the Pistol Grip when performing CPR. Most people do not understand why this is important and as a result all sorts of far less effective grips are used. OK you ask - so why is it so important to use a Pistol Grip for CPR? All will be revealed...

What is a Pistol Grip?
Answer - A Pistol Grip is employed by grasping your hand into the shape one would use when (heaven help us) a pistol is used.

When you grasp the casualties chin/jaw it is important to open the airway properly. To attain the CPR pistol grip make a fist with your hand then release the thumb and first finger next to the thumb.

Next place your thumb on the casualties chin just below and horizontal to the bottom lip. The three remaining scrunched up fingers go under the chin to allow a good grip on the casualties jaw.

The remaining finger (the one next to the thumb) just sits anywhere comfortable above the scrunched fingers. Great - you have cracked it; the you-beaut CPR Pistol Grip.
Why It is important?
The use of two fingers on the bottom of the chin just doesn't cut the mustard. Here is why:

When the casualty is laying on their back the tongue can fall back and block the airway. Employing a CPR pistol grip allows the rescuer to be able to pull the jaw forward slightly, in turn pulling the tongue clear so the airway is partially opened. The head tilt we talked about in the previous blog to this does the rest of the job in opening the airway fully.

Additionally the CPR pistol grip assists in clearing the epiglottis. The epiglottis is the little flap located in the upper airway. It blocks the airway when food, drink or foreign matter is likely to endanger the airway. In most cases The CPR pistol grip assists in moving the epiglottis and slightly opening the airway. (for instance It may become very swollen in the case of epiglottitis or even an allergic reaction, to name a couple of problems). Also in a near drowning incident the casualty will have a laryngeal spasm whereby the muscles surrounding the voice box spasm and the epiglottis endeavours to stop the passage of water into the lungs.

Next blog we shall take a look at the where's and whyfors of rescue breathing