tom is in respiratory arrest due to an electrical shock, why does a good samaritan have up to 4 to 5 minutes to begin C P R and save Tom
Due to sudden electric shock the muscles of respiration especially diaphragmatic muscles get temporarily paralysed due to which tom stops breathing. The condition is called Respiratory Arrest. However heart continues to pump the blood. So the real problem is oxygen levels in the blood fall sharply because there is no exchange of gases. If the condition continues for 5 minutes there is irreversible damage to vital organs especially brain cells causing death. In this 5 minutes window, Tom should be intubated with 100% oxygen. This mechanical respiration prevents brain damage. The effects of the electric shock are gone in minutes and Tom breathes again normally.
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