Adult Basic Life Support

Question 1

Define cardio-respiratory arrest

Answer 1

A sudden interruption of Cardiac output

Question 2

Is cardio-respiratory arrest reversible or irreversible?

Answer 2

It may be reversible if treated correctly

Question 3

What is a main sign of cardio-respiratory arrest?

Answer 3

Absence of normal breathing in a non-responsive individual

Question 4

Describe the stages to the chain of survival of a cardio-respiratory arrest

Answer 4

1) Early access (early recognition and fall for help to prevent Cardiac arrest)
2) Early CPR (buys time)
3) Early Defibrillation (to restart heart)
4) Early advanced life support (post resuscitation care to restore quality of life)

Question 5

What are the possible causes of cardio-respiratory arrest?

4 H’s

Answer 5

1) Hypoxia (deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues)
2) Hypovolaemia (abnormal depletion in the volume of blood, specifically blood plasma)
3) hypo/hyperthermia (abnormally low body temperature)
3) hyper/hypokalaemia (higher than normal potassium levels in the blood)

Question 6

What are the possible causes of cardio-respiratory arrest?

4 T’s

Answer 6

1) Tension Pneumothorax (accumulation Of air under pressure in the pleural space
2) Tamponade (Compression of the heart by an accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sack)
3) Toxins (a posionous substance)
4) Thromboembolism (obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot that has become dislodged from another site in the circulation system)

Question 7

Define the stages of DR. S. ABCD

Answer 7

D=Danger (ensure area is safe for patient and yourself)
R= Responce (check for response)
S=Shout for help 
A=Airway 
B=Breathing 
C=CPR
D=Defibrillation

Question 8

As part of the R in DR.S.ABCD how do you check for a response

Answer 8

Ask their name

Squeeze their shoulders

Question 9

As part of the A in DR.S.ABCD how do you check airway?

Answer 9

Perform head tilt chin lift or jaw thrust and assess for foreign objects

Question 10

As part of the B in DR.S.ABCD how do you check for breathing?
What should you bear in mind?

Answer 10

Check for breathing for no more than 10s

Look: for chest to rise
Listen: for breath sounds
Feel: for normal breathing against cheek

Remember: maintain head tilt chin lift

Question 11

Describe the CPR rhythm

Answer 11

30 chest compressions, 2 rescue breaths

Question 12

As part of the D (2nd) in DR.S.ABCD how quickly should you defribulate

Answer 12

Apply as soon as defibrillator is available and follow prompts

If you don’t know where your nearest is, the ambulance will direct you to it

Question 13

What to do if there is a responce from patient after asking name/squeezing shoulders?

What if there’s no response?

Answer 13

Leave casualty in same position
Ask what’s wrong
Reassess and monitor casualty regularly
If necessary place in recovery position

Place casualty on back if no responce and continue DR.S.ABCD

Question 14

What should you not do when checking for foreign objects?

Answer 14

Don’t use your fingers

Question 15

What should you dial if patients not breathing?

What should you say?

Answer 15

Call 999

State: Adult/child, “cardiac arrest”, Location, Trained in basic life support

Question 16

What happens if nobody comes to your aid when you’re alone with someone having a cardiac arrest and you can’t shout for help?

Answer 16

You must leave the casualty to seek help!!!

Question 17

Describe CPR technique

Answer 17

Hand position:

• place the heal of one hand in the middle of the lower half of the sternum
• the the other hand on top of the fist

Rate: approx 100-120 compressions per minute
Depth: 5-6cm

Question 18

What should you do if the chest doesn’t rise with rescue breaths?

Answer 18

Before the next attempt:

• Check the patient’s mouth and remove visible obstruction
• Re-check that there is adequate head tilt chin lift
• Do not attempt more than 2 breaths each time before returning to chest compressions

Question 19

When should you continue CPR until?

Answer 19

1) Qualified to help arrives and takes over
2) The patient starts to breathe normally
3) You become exhausted

(If there’s 2 persons present consider changing places every 2-3 minutes to maintain effective BLS)

Question 20

What should you do when the ambulance arrives?

Answer 20

• Give a brief history
• Give time ‘I have been carrying out CPR for 5 minutes without responce’
• remain to assist with equipment to help with CPR/BLS

Question 21

Describe the brief stages in adult basic life support

Answer 21

1) Unresponsive and not breathing normally
2) Call 999 and ask for an ambulance
3) 30 chest compressions
4) 2 rescue breaths
5) Continue CPR 30:2
6) As soon as AED arrives switch it on and follow instructions

Question 22

Describe the brief stages in paediatric basic life support

Answer 22

1) Unresponsive
2) Shout for help
3) Open airway
4) Not breathing normally
5) 5 Rescue breaths
6) No sign of life
7) 15 chest compressions
8) 2 rescue breaths
9) 15 chest compressions
10) Call resuscitation team (1 min CPR first if alone)

Question 23

What is the initial cause of most cardiac arrests?

Answer 23

Fast irregular beat of the heart known as ventricular fibrillation

Question 24

How successful is defibrillation when treating a cardiac arrest?

Answer 24

Survival rates are as high as 75% when a shock is delivered promptly, figure decreases 10% for every minute passed

Question 25

What are AED’s?

Answer 25

Automated external defibrillators

Portable electronic devices that analyse victims heart rhythm to identify whether its shockable or non shockable

Question 26

Detail the steps of using an AED

Answer 26

1. Switch on AED and attach the AED pads
   2) follow AED voice prompts
   3) ensure nobody tougher the victim whilst rhythm is being analysed
   4) safely deliver Shock to victim
   5) resume CPR immediately as guided by voice prompts, starting with chest compressions

Question 27

Name 2 general signs of choking

Answer 27

• attack occurs whilst eating

- victim may clutch his/her neck

Question 28

Detail signs of severe airway obstruction

Answer 28

If asked “are you choking” victim:

• unable to speak
• responds by nodding

Other signs:

• unable to breathe
• breathing is wheezy
• cough attempts are silent
• victim unconscious

Question 29

Detail signs of mild airway obstruction

Answer 29

Ask victim are you choking?
Response: yes

Other signs: victim able to speak, cough and breathe

Question 30

If someone is choking what should you do?

Answer 30

1) Assess the severity of the airway obstruction
2) if severe and the patient is unconscious start CPR
3) if severe and they’re conscious perform 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts

4)If there’s a mild airway obstruction encourage the patient to cough (continue to check for deterioration to ineffective cough or until obstruction is relieved)