Procedure: Advanced life support and Defibrillation

Question 1

What is a defibrillator?

Answer 1

Device that provides an electric shock to heart to allow it to get out of a potentially fatal abnormal heart rhythm

Question 2

What are the 3 types of defibrillator?

Answer 2

AED

ICD

Hospital Defibrillator

Question 3

What is an AED?

Answer 3

Automatic External Defibrillator

Portal device found in community settings

Question 4

What is an ICD?

Answer 4

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

Battery-powered device implanted under skin to monitor heart rate and deliver shock if needed

Question 5

What systematic approach should you follow when someone has a cardiac arrest?

Answer 5

S: Safety
S: Stimulate
S: Shout for help
A: Airway
B: Breathing
C: Circulation

Question 6

How do you check for safety, if someone is having a cardiac arrest?

Answer 6

Ensure that the area is safe to approach

Ensure that the patient is safe to approach, if they have head, neck, spinal injuries then its not suitable to move the patient

Question 7

How do you stimulate the patient in 3 ways if they are having a cardiac arrest?

Answer 7

Shake their shoulders

Talk to patient and ask if they can hear you

Trapezius squeeze test (TST)

Question 8

If someone is having cardiac arrest, how do you call help in 2 ways?

Answer 8

Call someone near to help with ALS

Press hospital bed emergency button

Question 9

How do you check airways in 2 ways in ALS, if a patient is having a cardiac arrest?

Answer 9

Open airway by putting one hand on patient’s forehead and two fingers with other hand under patient’s chin, then tilt patient head upwards

Look inside mouth to check if there are any obstructions

Question 10

How do you check breathing in ALS, if the patient is having a cardiac arrest?

Answer 10

Place your ear above their mouth to listen for breathing and look at patient’s chest for movement for maximum of 10 seconds

Question 11

How do you check circulation in ALS, if the patient is having a cardiac arrest?

Answer 11

Keep one hand below chin to keep airway open, use other to palpate carotid pulse

Question 12

How should you ask the helper to call the resuscitation team, and what else should you ask the helper to do?

Answer 12

Call 2222, state location and cardiac arrest. Say 2 times

Ask helper to bring resus trolley