Skip to main content

Basic life support survey

Basic Life Support (BLS) Primary Survey for Respiratory Arrest

Oct 6, 2017
Version control: This document is current with respect to 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC. These guidelines are current until they are replaced on October 2020. If you are reading this page after October 2020, please contact ACLS Training Center at support@acls.net for an updated document.

Order AHA posters

Order the full set of 9 ACLS
large-format algorithm posters,
American Heart Association
Order the full set of
printed crash cart cards
The main focus of the BLS Primary Survey (see Figure 1) is on early CPR and early defibrillation, if needed. For a patient in respiratory arrest, however, the focus is on breathing and airway issues. The process is to assess the patient, and then perform an appropriate action. Each step in the survey has an assessment and actions to follow.
Figure 1. Basic Life Support Decision Tree
Assessment
Action
Is the patient breathing?
Look for the rise and fall of the patient's chest.
Does the patient have a pulse?
The healthcare provider can take 5-10 seconds to check for a pulse.
AED
When the AED arrives, place it on the patient and follow the prompts
Is the patient breathing NORMALLY? (small gasping breaths are not considered normal.
If no Pulse – BEGIN COMPRESSIONS at a rate of 100/min to 120/min
If not sure if a pulse is present, BEGIN COMPRESSIONS at a rate of 100/min to 120/min
If pulse is present and breathing absent, begin ventilation at a rate of 10 per minute or once every 6 seconds using mouth to mouth or bag valve mask.
The last step, defibrillation, is part of the primary survey, but is not required for respiratory arrest, as the patient has a pulse for this case. Therefore the AED will advise the user "no shock advised, continue CPR if necessary."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BASIC LIFE SUPPORT FOR INFANT

PHRONESIS MEDICARE INTERNATIONAL BLS overview for infant Basic life support (BLS) is a basic level of medical care used to help sustain a person who is experiencing cardiac arrest or respiratory failure, until they can be given full medical care by an advanced responder. BLS can be used in any scenario where breathing or heartbeat has been compromised, such as drowning, heart attack, or severe shock (eg, severe loss of blood). BLS is more comprehensive than CPR alone, since it covers additional steps that are not expected from a layperson, as well as techniques for working with other rescuers. The techniques used for BLS vary slightly depending on whether the victim is an adult, child, or infant. This module explains the techniques and procedure for performing BLS on an infant. The adult and child procedures are covered in separate modules. Note: The term 'infant' in this context refers to neonates outside the delivery room setting, up to 12 months old. Children 12...
Post a Comment
Read more

Nigeria Paramedics managing a victim of carbon monoxide poison

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no smell or taste. Breathing it in can make you unwell, and it can kill if you're exposed to high levels. Every year there are around 25 deaths from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in England and Wales. After carbon monoxide is breathed in, it enters your bloodstream and mixes with haemoglobin (the part of red blood cells that carry oxygen around your body), to form carboxyhaemoglobin. When this happens, the blood is no longer able to carry oxygen, and this lack of oxygen causes the body’s cells and tissue to fail and die. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning aren't always obvious, particularly during low-level exposure. A  tension-type headache  is the most common symptom of mild carbon monoxide poisoning. Other symptoms include: dizziness nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting tiredness and confusion stomach pain shortness of breath  and d...
Post a Comment
Read more

Acute Coronary Syndromes Algorithm

Acute Coronary Syndromes Algorithm Oct 6, 2017 Version control:  This document is current with respect to 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC. These guidelines are current until they are replaced on October 2020. If you are reading this page after October 2020, please contact ACLS Training Center at support@acls.net for an updated document. PDF Version  Print PDF Order the full set of printed crash cart cards  Order now  $40 Using the Acute Coronary Syndromes Algorithm for Managing the Patient The Acute Coronary Syndromes Algorithm outlines the steps for assessment and management of a patient with ACS. The algorithm begins with the assessment of chest pain and whether it is indicative of ischemia. The assessment and management begin with the EMS responder outside of the hospital who can, initiate care. An initial 12-lead ECG can also be obtained early in the assessment of the patient which will help to determine the ap...
Post a Comment
Read more