LECTURE 6 (Basic life support)

Question 1

What is Cardiac Arrest?

Answer 1

When a person is unresponsive with absent or abnormal breathing

Question 2

What is Axonal breathing?

Answer 2

• Gasping sound that doesn’t sound like normal breathing and is a sign of death
• A brainstem reflex
• Occurs because the heat is no longer circulating oxygen rich blood
• CPR needs to be performed

Question 3

What is the effectiveness of chest compressions dependent on?

Answer 3

• Correct hand position
• Chest compression depth
• Rate
• Degree of chest wall recoil

Question 4

What is needed for successful chest compressions?

Answer 4

• Compressions on lower half of sternum
• 5-6cm
• 100-120 per minute
• Allow chest to recoil completely after each compression

Question 5

When should rescue breaths be given?

Answer 5

Alternate between 30 compressions and 2 rescue breaths

Question 6

What is an AED?

Answer 6

Automated external defibrillator

A portable, battery-powered devise with adhesive pads that are attached to a patient’s chest to detect the heart rhythm following suspected cardiac arrest

Question 7

DRSABC

Answer 7

D = Danger
R = Responsiveness
S = Send for help
A = Airway
B = Breathing
C = Circulation

Question 8

What should you do if the patient is breathing normally but still unresponsive?

Answer 8

Place in the recovery position

[be ready to re-start CPR if victim’s breathing becomes absent or abnormal again]

Question 9

What should you do if someone is choking?

Answer 9

1) Encourage victim to cough
2) Lean victim forward and deliver 5 back blows
3) Perform heimlich maneuver
[lean victim forwards, clench fist and place between umbilicus and ribcage and grasp fist with other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards]