Cardiac Arrest is the sudden loss of function of the heart. It most commonly occurs when the heart stops beating. Cardiovascular is one of the most common cardiac arrest diseases. Common causes of cardiac arrest include:
Drowning
Suffocation
Drugs
Blood loss
Electrocution
Chest injuries
Heart diseases
When you suspect that someone has went into cardiac arrest you need to look for
Unconsciousness
Signs that they are no longer breathing normally
The brain/vital organs only live for a few minutes after the heart stops pumping blood, meaning somebody in cardiac arrest needs CPR, an AED, and medical care ASAP. Here are the steps to CPR:
ADULT/CHILD
WHAT TO DO:
Check :
Check the scene to ensure safety.
If it is safe to do so , check the person and the persons ABC’s.
Call :
If the person does not respond, have someone call EMS/9-1-1 and tell them to go get an AED.
If you are alone with an adult, call EMS/9-1-1 yourself and get and AED, then return to care for the person.
If you're alone with a child do five cycles (two minutes) of CPR first , then call EMS/911 get an AED and return to care for the child.
Care : STEP 1: START CPR:
Place heel of one head on the middle of the person’s chest, and the place the other hand on top.
Do 30 compressions, (hard and fast)
allow the chest to recoil after compressions.
STEP 2: GIVE TWO RESCUE BREATHS
Open airway using head tilt/chin-lift.
Pinch the person's nostrils closed.
Take a normal breath.
Cover the person's mouth with your mouth.
Give two breaths , each breath should last one second with enough volume to make the chest rise.
STEP 3a: IF BOTH BREATHS GO IN:
Repeat the cycle of 30 compressions and 2 breaths.
STEP 3B: IF BREATHS DONT GO IN:
Follow the steps for “Unconscious, Choking Adult or Child’’ in chapter 5 First Aid and CPR manual.
STEP 4: CONTINUE CPR UNTIL:
An AED arrives.
More advanced care takes over.
The scene becomes unsafe.
You become physically unable to continue.
STEP 5:Provide continual care until EMS arrive.
CARE FOR A BABY:
STEP 1: START CPR:
Keep airway open by using your hand to maintain head-tilt.
Place two fingers on the middle of the chest, just below the nipple line.
Do 30 compressions (hard and fast).
Allow the chest to recoil after each compression.
STEP 2: GIVE TWO BREATHS WITH ENOUGH VOLUME TO MAKE CHEST RISE:
Take a normal breath.
Seal your lips tightly over the baby's mouth AND nose.
Give two breaths, each breath lasting one second with just enough volume to make the chest start to rise.
STEP 3a: IF BOTH BREATHS GO IN:
Repeat the cycle of 30 compressions and 2 breaths.
STEP 3B:
If your breaths do not go in, follow the care steps for “Unconscious, Choking Baby’’ in chapter 5 in the manual.
STEP 4: CONTINUE CPR UNTIL:
An AED arrives.
More advanced care takes over.
The scene becomes unsafe.
You become physically unable to continue.
STEP 5: Provide continual care until EMS arrive.
*Note: “ Push hard, push fast.” it's the compressions depth for the adult, child and baby.*