What are the 6 Hs of possible reversible causes of cardiac arrest?
- Hypovolaemia
- Hypoxia
- Hydrogen ions (acidosis)
- Hyperkalemia or hypokalemia
- Hypothermia
- Hypoglycaemia
What are the 6 Ts of possible reversible causes of cardiac arrest?
- Tablets / toxins
- Cardiac tamponade
- Tension pneumothorax
- Thrombosis (myocardial infarction)
- Thromboembolism (pulmonary embolism)
- Trauma
Which cardiac rhythms are non-shockable?
Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) and asystole
What is the treatment for non-shockable cardiac rhythms?
Identifying primary causation, performing effective CPR and administering epinephrine.
Which cardiac rhythms are shockable?
- Ventricular Tachycardia (VT)
- Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)
- Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
What is the rate of compressions when doing CPR?
100 beats per minute
What are the steps in the chain of survival?
- Early access to get help
- Early CPR to buy time
- Early defibrillation to restart the heart
- Early advanced life support
What are the clinical features of no sign of life?
- Unresponsive
- Not breathing normally
- Carotid pulse cannot be confidently palpated within 10 seconds
What are the clinical features of inadequate perfusion?
- Unresponsive
- Pallor or central cyanosis
- Pulse less than 40 beats per minute in adult (greater than 12 years of age)
What is agonal respiration?
Infrequent, irregular, gasping inspiratory effort - common in the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest
What does DRSABCD stand for?
D - Danger R - Response S - Send for Help A - Airway B - Breathing C - Circulation / CPR D - Disability / Defibrillation
What is the ratio of compressions to ventilation when conducting CPR?
30 compressions to 2 ventilations
What is cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest occurs when there is the cessation of blood circulation due to the inability of the heart to maintain adequate tissue perfusion.
