Basic Life Support Flashcards
What is BLS?
a fundamental emergency intervention given to someone experiencing a life threatening event.
How long should assessment of signs of life take?
Less than 10 seconds
What rate should you begin CPR at?
Rate: 100-120/min Depth: 5-6cm (1/3 of depth of chest) Give 2 breaths every 30 compressions
What does AED stand for?
Automated External Defibrillator
What is an AED?
a safe device which is used to deliver a shock to a patient who has had a cardiac arrest.
What is the recovery position?
where an unconscious but breathing patient is placed in a lateral position to help maintain their airway and prevent them from choking.
Describe putting patient into recovery position
What are vital signs?
The measurement of a number of physiological parameters.
These include temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturations. These can be used to help calculate a patient’s NEWS score.
What equipment is needed for temperature?
- Ear thermometer
- Disposable tip
What bin is thermometer probe cover disposed in?
Clinical waste (orange)
How do you take pulse manually (without pulse oximetry device)?
Palpate the pulse for 30 seconds and multiply result by two. If the pulse is irregular, take pulse for one full minute. (If this is the first time the patient’s pulse has been taken it should be palpated for a full minute.)
When should a pulse be recorded for a full minute?
- If the pulse is irregular
- If this is the first time the patient’s pulse has been taken
When should a respiration rate ideally be taken?
When the patient is unaware
Describe taking blood pressure procedure
- Place cuff
- Place stethoscope over brachial artery and palpate pulse
- Inflate cuff until you can no longer hear pulse
- Slowly deflate cuff at rate of about 2mmHg/second
- Listen with the stethoscope and simultaneously observe the sphygmomanometer. The first knocking sound (Korotkoff) is the subject’s systolic pressure (when you can hear pulse again)
- Continue to deflate the cuff, listening for when sounds disappear –> This is the DIASTOLIC PRESSURE (e.g. 120/80)
What is white coat hypertension (WCH)?
people exhibit a blood pressure level above the normal range, in a clinical setting
What is pulse oximetry? How is it performed?
Pulse oximetry is used to measure oxygen saturations by the use of a probe placed most commonly on the finger.
The probe monitors the percentage of haemoglobin in arterial blood that is oxygen-saturated.
What should ox sat be in healthy patients?
>95%
What is expected ox sat in patients with respiratory diseases?
88-92%
What may give falsely low readings in pulse oximetry?
- Nail polish
- Cold extremeties
What is used to measure peak expiratory flow?
Peak flow meter with disposable mouth piece
How is peak expiratory flow measured?
- Check that the gauge on the peak flow monitor is moved to zero.
- Peak flow monitor should be held horizontal
- Take a deep breath before blowing as hard and fast as possible into the mouthpiece (sealed lips around mouthpiece)
- Ask the patient to repeat the process three times and record the best of these results on the appropriate charts/paperwork.
If the patient is to record their peak flow at home, ask them to do so at the same time of the day as there is a diurnal variation.
If partial obstruction is supsected during choking, what should yoy encourage the patient to do?
Cough while leaning forward
What may indicate complete obstruction during choking?
If patient cannot vocalise response to ‘are you choking?’
How do you deal with complete obstruction?
Back slaps:
- Remove obvious debris from mouth, including loose dentures
- Stand to side and slightly behind patient
- Support them by placing one arm across their chest and lean them forward
- Give up to five sharp back slaps between their scapulae with heel of your hand
- After each slap, check their mouth for dislodged obstruction
