Basic Life Support
Basic Life Support is the foundation of Advanced Cardiac Life Support. Therefore a well performed BLS results in good ACLS and PALS (pediatric advanced life support).
1. Assess the victim’s ability to respond by shaking the victim and shout to get his or her attention. If the victim is unresponsive, check if the victim is breathing. If not, determine what type of cardiac arrest as you expect. Call for professional emergency medical services thru the local emergency hotline and obtain an automated external defibrillator also known as an AED.
2. After assessing and activating the EMS. Check for the carotid pulse for 5 to 10 seconds.
3. If there is pulse but no breathing, proceed to provide rescue breaths. The rescue breaths are delivered at a rate of one breath for every 5 to 6 seconds (10 to 12 breaths per minute). If pulse is absent, start doing chest compressions, and if there is a pulse but it is weak and thready, still provide chest compressions to maintain adequate perfusion. The compressions need to be hard, fast and deep with minimum interruptions. Position yourself directly over the victim’s chest while keeping your arms straight and elbows locked using the weight of your body for chest compression. The chest compressions are delivered at a rate of 100 per minute and interruptions are kept to a minimum to increase better chances for ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation).
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
1. The assessment of the patient is important. It should be organized since the information that is gathered during assessment is essential to making good treatment plans. Avoid placing the electrode pads on top of other devices to prevent alterations of data. Look for medication patches; these may cause burns while there are implanted defibrillators under the patient’s skin.
2. Use a bag- mask and use an advanced airway if rescue breathing is not enough. If endotracheal tube placement is decided, use waveform carnography to confirm and monitor the ET tube placement.
3. Support ventilation and provide adequate oxygen administration
4. Monitor cardiopulmonary quality
5. Attach and monitor a defibrillator
6. Provide cardioversion
7. Estavlish intravenous access
8. Give the appropriate pharmacologic medications
Important reminders:
Emergency plans should be established based on anticipated needs and available resources, there should be plan of action and the gathering of needed materials. The emergency response begins with the preparation of equipment and personnel before any emergency occurs. (first aid kit, fracture boards, ambulance and other materials needed.
Proper instruction should also be given to the bystanders who want to help. Proper information and instruction is necessary to provide an organized and effective first aid care.
Both trained and untrained bystanders should be instructed to activate professional medical assistance as soon as they have determined that an adult victim requires professional emergency care, so if the victim is an adult, call first. If you are untrained, then it’s better to get a CPR class such as the Free CPR Classes in Smyrna TN.