basic life support

Question 1

What is DR ABC?

Answer 1

*danger
*check response
*open airway
*check breathing
*chest compression
*rescue breathing

Question 2

What does AVPU stand for?

Answer 2

*alert
*voice
*pain
*unresponsive

Question 3

What should you do if the patient is unresponsive?

Answer 3

*shout for help +dial ambulance
*lay patient on a hard surface = floor

Question 4

How to open the airway?

Answer 4

*remove any obstructions from the mouth
*head tilt and chin lift

Question 5

How do you check breathing?

Answer 5

*Look, Listen and Feel for NORMAL breathing for no longer than 10 seconds
*do not confuse normal breathing for agonal breathing

Question 6

What is agonal breathing?

Answer 6

• An abnormal pattern of breathing characterised by slow,
  laboured, noisy gasps. (think - Goldfish breathing)
• One gasp every 10-15 seconds
• Occurs shortly after the heart stops in up to 40% of
  cardiac arrests

Question 7

What to do if the patient is breathing normally?

Answer 7

*place the patient in the recovery position

Question 8

What to do if the patient is NOT breathing normally?

Answer 8

*shout for a defibrillator/ get one
*start 30 chest compressions

Question 9

How should you do your chest compressions?

Answer 9

• Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest
• Place other hand on top and Interlock fingers
• Compress the chest 30 times
  – Depth 5-6 cm
  – Rate 100-120/min

Question 10

How do you give someone 2 rescue breaths?

Answer 10

• Pinch the nose
• Take a normal breath
• Place lips over mouth
• Blow until the chest
  rises
• Take about 1 second
• Allow chest to fall
• Repeat

Question 11

When can you stop CPR?

Answer 11

*when the patient shows signs of life AND breathing normally
*when the more qualified medical professionals take over
*when you become physically exhausted

Question 12

What are the signs of chocking?

Answer 12

• Clutching throat
• Ineffective cough,
• Excessive salivation,
• Fear

Question 13

What are the two ways to deal with choking?

Answer 13

*encourage to cough
*give 5 back blows
*give up to 5 abdominal thrusts

Question 14

How do you give someone 5 back blows?

Answer 14

• Back blows are more effective if the patients head is positioned head down.
• Lean the patient over your arm or something like a chair.
• Do not compress the soft tissues under the jaw, as this can exacerbate the airway
  obstruction.
• Deliver up to 5 sharp back blows with the heel of one hand in the middle of the
  back between the shoulder blades.
• The aim is to relieve the obstruction with each blow rather than to give all 5

Question 15

How do you give someone abdominal thrusts?

Answer 15

• Stand or behind the patient. Place your arms under their arms and encircle their torso.
• Clench your fist and place it between the umbilicus (tummy button) and xiphisternum.
• Grasp this hand with your other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards.
• Repeat up to 4 more times.
• Ensure that pressure is not applied to the xiphisternum or the lower rib cage as this
  may cause abdominal trauma.
• The aim is to relieve the obstruction with each thrust rather than to give all 5

Question 16

What should you do after trying to help someone choking?

Answer 16

*if object not expelled keep trying
*do not leave patient alone
*call out for help if it is still not available
*if the object is expelled successfully still assess the patient as some of the object still could remain, seek medical guidance

Question 17

What if a patient becomes unconscious after choking?

Answer 17

*place on a firm, flat surface
*call 999
*give CPR
*check airway

Question 18

What is the chain of survival?

Answer 18

*early recognition and calling for help (to prevent cardiac arrest)
*early CPR (to buy time)
*early defibrillation (to restart the heart)
*post resuscitation care (to restore quality of life)

Question 19

How should a defibrillator’s pads be placed on someone?

Answer 19

One on the top right of the patient’s bare chest, and the other on the bottom left.
This means the shock
will travel through the heart.

Question 20

What to do if a defibrillator recommends a shock?

Answer 20

*patient’s heart rhythm not normal and cannot sustain life - must solve
*try doing chest compressions whilst machine is charging up
*look around the patient and make sure they aren’t touching anything. shout “stand clear” and press shock button

Question 21

What to do if defibrillator does not recommend a shock?

Answer 21

*patient’s heart rhythm is pumping normally or its a cardiac arrest that won’t respond to shock
*only continue CPR if still not breathing normally.

Question 22

What is the every 2 minute swap sequence?

Answer 22

After analysing the patient’s heart and telling you the
instructions, the AED will remain quiet for 2 minutes.
This give you 2 minutes to do the best CPR you can do.
Go hard and fast!
After the 2 minutes the AED will tell you to stop CPR
and it will re-analyse the patient’s heart
This is the perfect time to swap CPR providers