Basic Life Support (BLS) and CPR Guidelines

• BLS stands for Basic Life Support.
• BLS is a level of medical care for victims of life-threatening illnesses or injuries until the victim can receive full medical care.
• BLS includes prompt recognition of cardiac arrest, activation of the emergency response system, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), defibrillation, and airway management.

Key Changes in the 2020 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC

• The 2020 guidelines emphasize early recognition of cardiac arrest and immediate activation of the emergency response system.
• Focus on high-quality CPR, including adequate rate and depth of compressions, allowing complete chest recoil between compressions, and minimizing interruptions in compressions.
• Early defibrillation remains a critical component of survival.
• Importance of team dynamics and communication during resuscitation efforts.
• There’s a new emphasis on the role of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in select patients.

Assessment

• Check the person for responsiveness.
• Shout for help.
• Activate the emergency response system (call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number) and get an AED if available.
• Check for breathing and pulse.
• Start CPR if the person is not breathing or is only gasping, and has no pulse.

CPR Steps

• CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Compression rate should be between 100-120 compressions per minute.
• Compression depth for adults should be at least 2 inches (5 cm) but no more than 2.4 inches (6 cm).
• Allow complete chest recoil after each compression.
• Minimize interruptions in compressions.
• For adults, use two hands for chest compressions.
• If trained, deliver rescue breaths, each breath should be given over 1 second and make the chest rise.
• Compression-to-ventilation ratio:
• Adults: 30 compressions and 2 breaths (30:2)
• Infants and children (one rescuer): 30 compressions and 2 breaths (30:2)
• Infants and children (two rescuers): 15 compressions and 2 breaths (15:2)

AED Use

• AED stands for automated external defibrillator.
• Turn on the AED and follow the prompts.
• Attach the AED pads to the victim's bare chest.
• Ensure no one is touching the person, and press the shock button if the AED advises a shock.
• Immediately resume CPR, starting with chest compressions, after delivering a shock.
• Continue until the AED prompts to stop, the person starts to move, or EMS arrives.

Special Situations

• CPR with an advanced airway involves continuous chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 per minute, with one breath every 6 seconds (10 breaths per minute).
• For opioid-associated life-threatening emergencies, administer naloxone in addition to providing BLS.
• Perform standard CPR during pregnancy, manually displace the uterus to the left if possible to relieve pressure on the vena cava.

Team Dynamics

• Communicate clearly and effectively.
• Know your limitations and ask for help when needed.
• Designate clear roles and responsibilities.
• Debrief after the event to identify areas for improvement.

CPR for Infants

• Check responsiveness.
• Check for breathing if there is no response.
• Start CPR if the infant is not breathing or only gasping and also has a pulse less than 60 bpm.
• Use two fingers (for one rescuer) or two thumbs encircling hands (for two rescuers) for chest compressions.
• Compression depth for infants should be approximately 1.5 inches (4 cm).
• Compression rate: 100-120 compressions per minute.
• Compression-to-ventilation ratio:
• Single rescuer: 30:2
• Two rescuers: 15:2

CPR for Children

• Check responsiveness.
• Check for breathing if there is no response.
• Start CPR if the child is not breathing or only gasping.
• Use one or two hands (depending on the size of the child) for chest compressions.
• Compression depth for children should be approximately 2 inches (5 cm).
• Compression rate: 100-120 compressions per minute.
• Compression-to-ventilation ratio:
• Single rescuer: 30:2
• Two rescuers: 15:2

Choking

Adult/Child

• Ask "Are you choking?" if the person is conscious and choking.
• Encourage them to continue coughing if they can speak or cough forcefully.
• Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) until the object is dislodged or the person becomes unresponsive if the person cannot speak, cough, or breathe.
• Start CPR if the person becomes unresponsive, and look for the object each time when opening the airway to give breaths, and remove it if seen.

Infant

• Hold the infant face down over your forearm, supporting the jaw and chest.
• Deliver 5 back slaps between the shoulder blades.
• Turn the infant face up and deliver 5 chest thrusts, using two fingers in the center of the chest, just below the nipple line if the object is not dislodged.
• Repeat until the object is dislodged or the infant becomes unresponsive.
• Start CPR if the infant becomes unresponsive, and look for the object each time when opening the airway to give breaths, and remove it if seen.

Key Considerations

• High-quality CPR is essential for improving outcomes.
• Early defibrillation significantly increases the chances of survival in cases of ventricular fibrillation.
• Effective teamwork and communication are crucial during resuscitation efforts.
• Knowledge of the latest guidelines and regular training are necessary to provide effective BLS.
• Staying calm, acting quickly, and following established protocols is important to minimize risk and improve chance of survival.

Overview of Basic Life Support (BLS) and key guidelines, including CPR and defibrillation. Focus on prompt recognition of cardiac arrest, high-quality CPR, and early defibrillation. Covers 2020 AHA updates and team dynamics.