Cardiac Arrest: First Aid Guide
Everyone knows how important the human heart is. Any problems with your cardiovascular system are extremely dangerous because should your heart fail, the chances of surviving are very low. Unfortunately, a great number of people today suffer from some kind of cardiovascular condition. This means that one day, you may find yourself in a situation when a person near you is going into cardiac arrest. If this happens, you may be the only one able to save the person’s life if you know how to act.
I have been working as a certified nursing assistant for many years, and during this time, I have had to perform first aid on many people suffering from cardiac arrest. Thus, I know how difficult it can be from experience, but I also know how important it is to take the necessary actions immediately. I’d like to share this short guide with you in hopes that one day, it may help you save someone’s life.
I have been working as a certified nursing assistant for many years, and during this time, I have had to perform first aid on many people suffering from cardiac arrest. Thus, I know how difficult it can be from experience, but I also know how important it is to take the necessary actions immediately. I’d like to share this short guide with you in hopes that one day, it may help you save someone’s life.
Determine What You Are Dealing With
Cardiac arrest is a condition that occurs when a person’s heart stops beating. If you visit website that features information on different cardiovascular system diseases, you will learn that there are many conditions that can cause cardiac arrest. For example:
• Heart attacks
• Various heart diseases
• Drugs
• Poisoning
• Heart rhythm disturbances
• Injury and subsequent blood loss
Understanding the person’s medical history will help you diagnose the problem faster. However, it’s required to notice the signs of cardiac arrest, such as absence of a pulse and breathing.
As soon as you notice that something is wrong, put the person in the recovery position and call 911. Monitor the patient’s pulse. In case the person stops breathing, move on to the next step immediately.
• Heart attacks
• Various heart diseases
• Drugs
• Poisoning
• Heart rhythm disturbances
• Injury and subsequent blood loss
Understanding the person’s medical history will help you diagnose the problem faster. However, it’s required to notice the signs of cardiac arrest, such as absence of a pulse and breathing.
As soon as you notice that something is wrong, put the person in the recovery position and call 911. Monitor the patient’s pulse. In case the person stops breathing, move on to the next step immediately.
Try to Restart the Heart
Put your palm on the patient’s chest (over the lower part of their breast bone), cover it with the palm of your other hand, and press several times. The pumping motion should be able to restart the heart. However, this method might work only if the action is taken immediately. If there is no heartbeat after you perform two pumps, you must start performing CPR.
Perform Standard CPR
If the patient is lying in the recovery position, move him or her to where he or she is lying on his or her back. Be sure to move all parts of the body in one smooth motion. Next, open the person’s airway. To do this, you must tilt the head backwards and open the mouth.
Put your hands on top of each other over the lower part of the patient’s breastbone and start making compressions. The ribcage must be compressed about two inches if you are treating an adult and one and a half inches if treating a child. When performing compressions on children, you must use only one hand to prevent damaging the ribcage. Use two fingers when dealing with infants.
During CPR, compressions must be followed by artificial respiration. Breathe two mouthfuls of air into the patient’s mouth after every 30 compressions. Pinch the person’s nose to prevent air from escaping. If you are treating a child, perform two “rescue breaths” for every 15 compressions. With newborns, three compressions must be followed by an artificial breath.
Put your hands on top of each other over the lower part of the patient’s breastbone and start making compressions. The ribcage must be compressed about two inches if you are treating an adult and one and a half inches if treating a child. When performing compressions on children, you must use only one hand to prevent damaging the ribcage. Use two fingers when dealing with infants.
During CPR, compressions must be followed by artificial respiration. Breathe two mouthfuls of air into the patient’s mouth after every 30 compressions. Pinch the person’s nose to prevent air from escaping. If you are treating a child, perform two “rescue breaths” for every 15 compressions. With newborns, three compressions must be followed by an artificial breath.
Wait for Help
In case you succeed with restarting the person’s heart, keep monitoring their pulse and breathing until an ambulance arrives. During this time, you have to secure the perimeter around you and avoid disturbing the patient as much as possible. If there are some injuries that need to be addressed, you must move on to treating them while keeping an eye on the person’s heartbeat.
If your attempts to resuscitate the patient aren’t successful, continue with CPR until help arrives. It will be best to engage another person to assist you, as this will make providing the treatment easier and the procedure will be more effective.
If your attempts to resuscitate the patient aren’t successful, continue with CPR until help arrives. It will be best to engage another person to assist you, as this will make providing the treatment easier and the procedure will be more effective.