Chapter 14: BLS Resuscitation - Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, 12th Edition

Introduction

• Review of Basic Life Support (BLS) procedures for adults, infants, and children.
• BLS principles introduced in 1960; regularly updated.
• Latest review by International Liaison Committee for Resuscitation in 2020.

Elements of BLS

• Non-invasive emergency life-saving care for airway obstructions, respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest.
• Focus on ABCs:
  • Airway: Obstruction
  • Breathing: Respiratory arrest
  • Circulation: Cardiac arrest, severe bleeding
• CAB sequence in cardiac arrest: Compressions, Airway, Breathing.

CPR Overview

• CPR reestablishes circulation and ventilation in a non-breathing, pulseless patient.
• Steps:
  • Perform high-quality chest compressions
  • Open the airway
  • Provide rescue breathing: 2 breaths over 1 second
• BLS vs. ALS:
  • BLS: Short-term life maintenance until ALS measures.

Chain of Survival

• Six links by American Heart Association:
  • Recognition and emergency response activation
  • Immediate high-quality CPR
  • Rapid defibrillation
  • Basic and advanced emergency services
  • Advanced life support
  • Post-arrest care and recovery

Assessing the Need for BLS

• Survey the scene and evaluate patient's ABCs.
• Determine responsiveness within 10 seconds.
• Differences in causes of arrest among adults and children.

Automatic External Defibrillation (AED)

• Vital for cardiac arrest management; apply ASAP.
• Usage varies between adults and children.
• Considerations for special situations (pacemakers, water, etc.).

Patient Positioning

• Supine on a firm, flat surface for effective CPR.
• Check for breathing and pulse promptly.

CPR Techniques

• Proper hand and compression technique:
  • Rhythmic, equal duration compressions
• Open the airway with head tilt-chin lift or jaw thrust.
• Provide ventilations using barrier devices.

CPR for Different Age Groups

• Adults: 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio.
• Infants and Children:
  • Focus on airway and breathing
  • Use 2-finger or 2-thumb techniques

Foreign Body Airway Obstructions

• Techniques differ for adults, children, and infants.
• Use abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) or chest thrusts based on scenario.

Special Considerations

• Opioid Overdose: Narcan administration.
• Pregnancy: High-quality CPR and positioning.

Grief Support

• Approach for family members during resuscitation.

Training and Education

• Importance of regular CPR practice and public education.

Conclusion

• Emphasis on timely intervention and practice.
• Importance of CPR and AED training for public advocacy.