BLS notes

• • SCA (sudden cardiac arrest) is a leading cause of death in U.S. and Canada.

  • CDC estimates that in the U.S. approx, 330,000 people die annually from coronary heart disease before reaching hospital or in the emergency room. About 250,000 of those deaths occur in the out-of-hospital setting. The annual incidence of SCA in North America has separately been estimated to be approx, 0.55 per 1000 population.

  • Critical Concepts in good quality CPR:

    • Push hard, push fast: compress at a rate of 100 compressions per minute

    • Allow full chest recoil after each compression.

    • Minimize interruptions in chest compression; try to keep interruptions to less than 10 seconds.

    • Avoid hyperventilation.

  • Check:

  • http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/en/

  • The rescuer's exhaled air contains approximately 17% oxygen and 4% CO2. This is enough oxygen to supply the victim's needs.

  • Compression:Ventilation ratio in lone rescuer is 30:2 when giving CPR to all ages, except neonates.

  • Two rescuers should use a compression:ventilation ratio of 15 compression to 2 breaths when giving CPR to children and infants.

• Breaths in all age groups should be delivered over 1 second and should produce visible chest rise.

• When the victim has an advanced airway (eg, endotracheal tube, LMA, Combitube) in place, CPR is no longer performed as “cycles” of compressions with pauses for breaths. The compressor gives continuous compressions. The rescuer giving breaths should give 1 breath every 6 to 8 seconds (about 8 to 10 breaths/minute).

Adult

• When giving 2 breaths at the beginning of the CPR sequence or during cycles of compressions and breaths, if the chest does not rise after the first breath, the rescuer should try again to open the airway before giving the second breath.

• Rescue Breathing Without Chest Compressions: Give 1 breath every 5 to 6 seconds (about 10 to 12 breaths/minute).

Child

• When giving 2 breaths at the beginning of the CPR sequence or during cycles of compressions and breaths, if the chest does not rise after the first breath, the rescuer should try again to open the airway before giving the second breath. Healthcare providers may need to try “a couple of times” to open the airway and deliver effective breaths (ie, breaths that produce visible chest rise) for child victims.

• Rescue Breathing Without Chest Compressions: Give 1 breath every 3 to 5 seconds (about 12 to 20 breaths/minute).

Infant

• When giving 2 breaths at the beginning of the CPR sequence or during cycles of compressions and breaths, if the chest does not rise after the first breath, the rescuer should try again to open the airway before giving the second breath. Healthcare providers may need to try “a couple of times” to open the airway and deliver effective breaths (ie, breaths that produce visible chest rise) for infant victims.

• Rescue Breathing Without Chest Compressions: Give 1 breath every 3 to 5 seconds (about 12 to 20 breaths/minute).