RBroz Consultancy Corner: Basic Life Support

BLS

Basic Life Support

Chan of survival

Cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can save the lives of victims in cardiac arrest. Two-thirds of heart attack victims (due to heart disease) die outside the hospital, most within two hours of the onset of symptoms. Though CPR itself is not enough to save the life of a victim of heart attack, it is a vital link in the chain of survival.

The chain of survival has four links and the patient’s chances for surviving are the greatest when all the links come together.

1. Early access

If access of a first aider may be possible on the time of attack and provide the CPR the survival of patient’s chance increase.

2. Early CPR

Early CPR can save the lives of victims in cardiac arrest, but the first aider has the knowledge and training of CPR.

3. Early defibrillation

It is most likely improving survival. It is the key intervention to increase the chances of survival of the patients.

4. Early advanced care

If advanced care provided by highly trained personnel like paramedics, provision of advanced care, outside the hospital would be possible.

The need for these interventions should not be limited to victims of heart disease. Many victims of drowning, trauma, electrocution, suffocation, airway obstruction, allergic reaction, etc, may be saved by prompt intervention.

Heart attack risk factors

Risk factors that cannot be changed:-

· Family History

· Sex

· Ethnic Background

· Age

Risk factors that can be changed:-

· Smoking

· High Blood Pressure

· High Cholesterol

· Physical Activity

Contributing Factors:-

· Obesity

· Diabetes

· Excessive Stress

Heart and Lung function and anatomy

The Cardiovascular System

The cardiovascular system consists of the heart, arteries, capillaries and veins. The heart is a muscular organ, approximately the size of a fist and is located in the thoracic cavity behind the sternum and between the lungs. The coronary arteries are special arteries that supply blood to the heart muscles themselves.

The function of the heart is to pump blood; the left side receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the body through the arteries. The right side receives, through the veins, the blood that has circulated through the body and pumps it to the lungs to be oxygenated once again.

The Respiratory System:-

The respiratory system is made up of four components;

· Airway

· Neuromuscular System

· Alulae

· arteries, Capillaries, veins

The alveoli are surrounded by capillaries. The brain sends nerve signals to muscles in the thorax and diaphragm, causing us to breathe. With each inhalation, air is carried through the airways to the alveoli in the lungs, where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged.

In combination with the respiratory system, the circulatory system supplies the oxygen necessary for life, and eliminates carbon dioxide from the body.

Breathing:-

Adequate breathing is characterized by:

· chest and abdomen rise and fall with each breath

· air can be heard and felt exiting the mouth and nose

· ease of breathing

· adequate rate

Inadequate breathing is characterized by:

· inadequate rise and fall of the chest

· noisy breathing: bubbles, ales, stridor, whistling etc

· increased respiratory effort

· cyanoses

· inadequate rate