The cardiopulmonary resuscitation It is a key tool to save lives in many situations. If a group of people are isolated for a long time, in a place far from civilization in general and hospitals in particular, it is better for them to know how to do it. And, without a doubt, one of those places is the International Space Station (ISS).
Sometimes in the crew there may be a doctor. In fact, the NASA surgeon is there right now Kjell Lindgren. But it is not always the case. Therefore, all astronauts must know how to do the maneuver and are responsible for rehearsing it regularly.
We might think that so much testing is not necessary, but we must remember that the International Space Station has the peculiarity of the microgravity. One of the keys to performing a good cardiopulmonary resuscitation is to push with your hands on your chest, with the help of your body weight. But the mere act of pressing on the chest would make us float away from the person we are trying to revive. For this reason, they have their own strategies, as recently shown in a TikTok video by the European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.
This is cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the International Space Station
Samantha Cristoforetti She is one of the astronauts who have worked hardest to make known what life is like on the International Space Station. For example, last year she showed a quirky video about how to cook tacos in space. This time she has shown us something much more vital: her method of performing CPR.
Actually, it is not one method, but two. She explains that her favorite is the one consisting of anchor your legs to the ceiling and, thus, being able to drop on the chest of the person you want to save, without floating out as a consequence.
However, there is another way, perhaps a little more comfortable. And it is that the stretcher they use to carry out the maneuver It has some straps that can be tied to the body of the astronaut performing first aid. In this way, CPR can be performed almost as if you were not on the International Space Station.
Then there is only alternate 30 compressions with 2 breathsyes For the latter, they also have a resuscitation mask.
It takes a lot of dexterity to do, along with very strong leg muscles, which is why astronauts on the International Space Station rehearse it very regularly. You never know when it will be needed and if there will still be a doctor in the crew. Just in case, it is best that everyone is prepared.
