Background

➢ Basic life support (BLS) refers to the care provided by

emergency personnel, medical experts, and trained
personnel for individuals experiencing cardiac arrest,
respiratory distress, or airway obstruction.

➢ BLS includes psychomotor skills for high-quality

cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), using an AED, and
relieving obstructed airways for patients of all ages.
 Background
➢ Its aims are:
○ Preserve life
○ Prevent worsening of the condition
○ Promote recovery
 Cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR)
CPR involves rescue
breathing and chest
compressions to temporarily
pump blood to the brain
until specialized treatment
is available, with chest
compressions being the
topmost priority.
When to conduct a CPR?
➢ When someone suddenly
collapses
➢ Breathing problems
➢ When someone becomes
unconscious
➢ Electrocution injuries
➢ Drowning
➢ Drug overdose
➢ Exposure to smoke or
inhalants
 Signs of successful CPR

➢ Chest rise and fall with each rescue breath

➢ Checking pulse after the 1st minute of CPR and
every few minutes to determine if the pulse has
return
➢ Having a rescue feel for carotid pulse while
giving chest compression
 Adult CPR
➢ Attempt to wake victim . If the victim is not breathing (or is just
gasping for breath), call 911 immediately and go to step 2. If someone
else is there to help, one of you calls 911 while the other moves on to
step 2.
➢ Begin chest compressions . If the victim is not breathing, place the
heel of your hand in the middle of his chest. Put your other hand on
top of the first with your fingers interlaced. Compress the chest at
least 2 inches (4-5 cm). Allow the chest to completely recoil before
the next compression. Compress the chest at a rate of at least 100
pushes per minute. Perform 30 compressions at this rate (should
take you about 18 seconds).
 Adult CPR
➢ Begin rescue breathing . If you have trained in CPR, after 30
compressions, open the victim’s airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift
method. Pinch the victim’s nose and make a seal over the victim’s
mouth with yours. Use a CPR mask if available. Give the victim a
breath big enough to make the chest rise. Let the chest fall, and
then repeat the rescue breath once more. If the chest doesn’t rise
on the first breath, reposition the head and try again. Whether it
works on the second try or not, go to step 4. If you don’t feel
comfortable with this step, just continue to do chest compressions
at a rate of at least 100/minute
 Adult CPR
➢ Repeat chest compressions . Do 30 more chest compressions just
like you did the first time.
➢ Repeat rescue breaths . Give 2 more breaths just like you did in step
3 (unless you’re skipping the rescue breaths).
➢ Keep going . Repeat steps 4 and 5 for about two minutes (about 5
cycles of 30 compressions and 2 rescue breaths).
○ If you have access to an automated external defibrillator (AED),
continue to do CPR until you can attach it to the victim and turn
it on. If you saw the victim collapse, put the AED on right away. If
not, attach it after approximately one minute of CPR (chest
compressions and rescue breaths).
 Adult CPR

➢ After 2 minutes of chest compressions and rescue breaths, stop

compressions and recheck victim for breathing . If the victim is still
not breathing, continue CPR starting with chest compressions.
➢ Repeat the process . Check for breathing every 2 minutes (5 cycles
or so), until help arrives. If the victim wakes up, you can stop CPR.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
(CPR)
1. Check the scene and call 911
2. Assess the casualty’s pulse and
breathing
3. Give 30 chest compressions
4. Give 2 rescue breaths
5. Repeat the 30:2 ratio
 Infant CPR
➢ Step 1: Circulation
○ Place the baby gently on a flat surface, like a table or the floor.
CPR should always be done placing the victim on a flat surface.
○ Gently place two of your fingers in the middle of the chest of the
baby. To understand the exact point, imagine seeing a horizontal
line going through the chest of the baby, dividing his/her nipples!
You need to pace your fingers (2 fingers of one hard) in the center
of the chest just below this horizontal line!
○ With the help of two fingers, gently compress the chest of the
baby. Dig your fingers about 1.5 inches deep into the chest and
pump about 100 compression within a minute, that is about 16
compressions per 10 seconds. You can also count aloud to keep a
track.
 Infant CPR
➢ Step 2: Airway
○ After the compressions to restore blood circulation in the
infant, the next step would be to clear the airways of the infant
allowing him/her to breath. You can do this after 30
compressions by gently tilting the head of the infant back by
lifting his/her chin with one hand and pushing the forehead
down the other hand.
○ Make sure that you don’t tilt the head way too much. It may
prove to be harmful for the infant.
○ Within 10 seconds of lifting the chin of the infant, check for
movements in the chest and breathing. Do this by placing your
ears and cheeks in front of the baby’s mouth and nose.
 Infant CPR
➢ Step 3: Breathing
○ If there are still no signs of breathing, then the next step would be to
cover the infant’s nose and mouth with your mouth and provide the
infant with the rescue breathing!
○ Slowly breathe into the infant and blow gentle puffs of air by taking a
second for a single breath! While you do this, also check for the rise
in the infant’s chest.
○ If you see the bay’s chest rising, then give the second rescue breath.
If the chest is not rising, then you will have to repeat Step #2 and
then again go for the rescue breathing!
○ It is advisable to give the infant two rescue breaths within a period
of every 30 compressions. Continue to do this until help arrives!
 Foreign body
obstruction
(choking)
Foreign body obstruction
occurs when an object or
substance becomes trapped
in a person's airway,
digestive system, or other
body parts, such as
accidentally swallowing or
inhaling.
➢ Common examples include food particles , small toys , coins , or
bones . The severity of foreign body obstruction can range
from mild discomfort to life-threatening situations if not
addressed promptly.
➢ Symptoms may include difficulty breathing , choking ,
coughing , wheezing , gagging , or pain , depending on the
location and size of the obstruction.
➢ In serious cases, it is essential to seek immediate medical
attention to ensure proper treatment and the removal of the
foreign object.
 Causes of Choking
1. Eating or Drinking : Choking commonly occurs when a person
does not chew their food thoroughly or tries to swallow large
pieces of food. Drinking too rapidly or consuming large bites
can also lead to choking.
2. Small Objects : Infants and young children are particularly
vulnerable to choking on small objects such as coins, buttons,
beads, or small toys. This is why it is important to keep small
objects out of reach and supervise young children during
playtime.
 Causes of Choking
3. Medical Conditions : Certain medical conditions can increase the
risk of choking. These may include neurological disorders that
affect swallowing or conditions that cause muscle weakness, such
as stroke, Parkinson's disease, or muscular dystrophy.
4. Dentures or Poorly Fitted Dental Appliances : Loose or
improperly fitted dentures, dental retainers, or other dental
appliances can become dislodged during eating and cause choking.
 Causes of Choking
5. Alcohol or Drug Use : Impaired coordination and decreased
consciousness, often associated with alcohol or drug use, can
increase the risk of choking while eating or consuming substances.
➢ It is important to be cautious and take appropriate measures
to prevent choking, such as practicing safe eating habits,
cutting food into small, manageable pieces, and supervising
young children during meals and playtime.
 Types of Upper Airway
➢
Obstruction
Tongue . An unconscious victim's relaxed tongue muscle may slip
or fall into the airway, obstructing it. This is one of the most
common reasons for an obstruction.
➢ Vomit . Most people vomit when they are dying.
➢ Foreign body . The shape of regular nuts, candy hot dogs, and
grapes has become the primary reason why children
inadvertently inhale these objects.
 Types of Upper Airway
Obstruction
➢ Swelling . Victims of allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) and
irritants frequently experience throat swelling, which can lead
to airway obstruction.
➢ Spasm . When a person inadvertently inhales water, the throat
begins to spasm. This is common when someone is drowning.
Dangerous complications of CPR

➢ Vomiting Stomach distension

➢ Inhalation of foreign substances (aspiration)
➢ Chest compression related injuries
➢ Dentures, loose or broken teeth or dental
appliances
When to stop performing CPR?
➢ When Advanced Help Arrives
➢ When you become too exhausted or tired to
continue (Physical Fatigue)
➢ When the victim shows signs of life
➢ When the victim dies
 Obvious Signs of Death
(Stages of Death)
➢ Pallor mortis
paleness of the skin which happens in the 15–120 minutes
after death
➢ Livor mortis
settling of the blood in the lower, or dependent, portion
of the body, causing a purplish red discoloration of the
skin. (bruise-like)
➢ Algor mortis – the body turn cold
➢ Rigor mortis – stiffness of the limbs
 Common CPR mistakes

➢ Rescue breathing or mouth-to-mouth mistakes

– Not opening the Airway
– Not making a Seal
– Over-inflating the Lungs
 Common CPR mistakes
➢ Chest compression mistakes
– Shallow Chest Compressions
– Inadequate recoil of Chest Wall
– Long pauses in Chest Compressions