BEC: CPR and choking Flashcards
What are the steps for initial assessment and treatment of an unresponsive victim?
- Safety - check for dangers
- Response - gently shake his shoulders and ask loudly “are you alright?”, if he responds, do not commence CPR but reassess him regularly
- If no response, open the airway - turn the victim onto his back, head tilt chin lift
- Look, listen and feel for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds (do not confuse with agonal breathing) - also take carotid pulse
- If pulse but no breathing, repeat rescue breaths every 6 seconds for a minute and reassess
- If no pulse or abnormal/absent breathing, call 999 and send someone to get an AED (automated external defibrillator)
- Start chest compressions
- Give rescue breaths
- If AED arrives, attach electrodes to bare chest and if shock is indicated, deliver shock
- Immediately restart CPR at a ratio of 30:2
- If no shock is indicated, continue CPR
- Do not stop CPR until a health professional tells you to stop, you become exhausted or victim wakes up
Explain the process of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- Kneel by the side of the victim
- Place the heel of the hand in the centre of the victim’s chest (lower half of sternum)
- Place heel of your other hand on top of first hand
- Interlock the fingers of your hand and ensure pressure is not applied over victim’s ribs
- Keep your arms straight
- Position shoulders vertically over victim’s chest and press down on the sternum to a depth of 5-6cm
- After each compression, release all the pressure on the chest without losing contact between your hands and the sternum
- Repeat at a rate of 100-120/min
Describe the process of delivering rescue breaths
- After 30 compressions, open the airway again (head tilt chin lift) and give 2 rescue breaths
- Pinch the nose closed
- Allow mouth to open but maintain chin lift
- Take a normal breath and place your lips around his mouth
- Blow steadily into mouth while watching for chest to rise, taking about 1 second
- Maintaining head tilt chin lift, remove your mouth and watch for the chest falling - repeat a 2nd time (do not spend more than 10 seconds delivering rescue breaths)
- Continue with chest compressions and rescue breaths in a ratio of 30:2
Describe the sequence of steps for managing a victim who is choking
- Encourage victim to cough
- If cough is ineffective, give 5 back blows
- If back blows are ineffective, give 5 abdominal thrusts
- Start CPR if victim becomes unresponsive
- If victim is breathing normally but is unresponsive, place in recovery position
Describe how to deliver back blows
- Stand to the side and slightly behind the victim
- Support the chest with one hand and lean the victim well forwards so that when the obstructing object is dislodged, it comes out of the mouth rather than goes further down the airway
- Give 5 sharp blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your other hand
Describe how to deliver abdominal thrusts
- Stand behind the victim and put both arms around the upper part of the abdomen
- Lean the victim forwards
- Clench your fist and place it between the umbilicus and ribcage
- Grasp this hand with your other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards
- Repeat 5 times
- If obstruction is still not relieved, continue alternating 5 back blows with abdominal thrusts
Explain how to place patient in recovery position
- Remove victim’s glasses if worn
- Kneel beside victim and make sure both his legs are straight
- Place the arm nearest to you out at right angles to his body, elbow bent with palm up
- Bring the far arm across the chest and hold the back of the hand against the victim’s cheek nearest to you
- Keeping his hand pressed against his cheek, pull on far leg to roll the victim towards you on his side
- Adjust the upper leg so both hip and knee are bent at right angles
- Tilt head back to ensure airway remains open
- If necessary, adjust hand under cheek to keep head tilted and facing downwards to allow liquid material to drain from the mouth
- Check breathing regularly
Be prepared to restart CPR immediately if victim deteriorates or stops breathing
To what depth should the chest be compressed in CPR?
5 - 6 cm
At what rate should the chest me compressed in CPR?
100-120/min
What is the duty cycle?
The proportion of chest compression spent in compression compared to relaxation
What is the recommnded value of the duty cycle?
50%
Why should CPR providers swap after approximately 2 minutes?
Depth can decrease as CPR provider becomes fatigued
How should rescue breaths be delivered if victim’s mouth is seriously injured or cannot be opened?
Mouth-to-nose ventilation
How are rescue breaths given to a patent with a tracheostomy tube or tracheal stoma?
Mouth-to-tracheostomy ventilation
What modifications are given to CPR for a child?
- Give 5 initial rescue breaths before starting chest compressions
- If you are on your own, perform CPR for at least one minute before going for help
- Compress the chest by at least 1/3 of its depth - 4 cm for an infant, 5 cm for a child
- Use 2 fingers for an infant under 1 year
