Understanding Basic Life Support, CPR and First-Aid

CPR
Infant - Review
AHA guidelines for infants are under the age of 12 months. The same C-A-B process is performed with the infant as with children and adults, besides a few important differences.
Make sure to perform 5 reps before calling 911, unless someone else can. Make sure to place 2 fingers just under the nipples and below the middle of the chest. Unlike children and adults you'll place your mouth over the infant's mouth and nose. The same ration of C-A-B's are used 30:2 at 100 compressions a minute with 1 second breaths.
Child Review
AHA guidelines for children are from ages 1-8. The same process is performed with the child as you would with an
adult besides a few differences.
Make sure to perform CPR before calling 911. The ratio of chest compressions to breathing is 30:2. Look, Listen and feel for breathing. Make sure nothing is blocking the airway. Squeeze the nose shut and perform the Breathing task.
Adult Review
Check to see if the patient is conscious by shouting "Are you okay?" several times. If the patient doesn't respond, immediately call 911. Then perform the C-A-B's. Circulation - use 2 hands for chest compressions at a ratio of 100 per minute-30 compressions then mouth-to-mouth. Airway - tilt the head back and listen for breathing and then look for any response. Breathing - mouth-to-mouth - pinch nose shut sealing the patient's mouth with yours and breathe once checking for the patient's chest to inflate. If not, perform the airway technique until chest inflates. 2 breaths every 30 chest compressions-each breath, 1 second.
Remember the order of the tasks being: Circulation, Airway, Breathing (C-A-B).
First-Aid Review
When dealing with Amputations make sure to call 911 immediately. Control the blood loss by bandaging the stump. Manage the limb appropriately by keeping it in a sealed plastic bag on top of ice.
Treatments for Bites & Stings are: to administer auto injection, if necessary, and to perform CPR.
Burns vary on the degree of which the patient has been burned. Remember, there are 3 categories-1st-degree, 2nd-degree and 3rd-degree.
Treatment: Keep the burn cool. Treat the burn with an ointment. Wrap the burn to avoid infection. Do the same with a 2nd degree burn. If it's a 3rd degree burn: Do NOT take materials off the patient. Call 911 or rush to the hospital immediately. Raise the burned body parts above the heart to raise the blood pressure and ease the pain. Cover the burns with a moist cloth.
Treatment for Bruises: Apply an ice pack or cold cloth. If necessary, have the patient take a pain-reliever. If the bruise is on the head consider taking the patient to a hospital or to see a doctor for a concussion.
If a patient undergoes Cardiac Arrest perform CPR and/or use an AED and call 911, immediately.
Choking - The universal sign for choking is placing both hands around your neck. For Infants:Apply 5 thumps to infant's back and 2-finger compression upon the chest and repeat, until the object is lodged. For Children and Adults: perform the Heimlich maneuver (5 quick thrusts). For an Unconscious person: lay the him/her on their back, on the ground and perform CPR-not forgetting to clear the airway and to call 911.
Treatment for Cuts & Scrapes: stop the bleeding. Clean the wound thoroughly. Apply an ointment. Wrap the wound to avoid infection. If the wound is deeper than a ¼ inch seek medical attention. Have the patient get a tetanus shot or a booster shot.
Treatment for Drug Overdoses: call 911 immediately or take the patient to the nearest hospital. Check for Shock symptoms, monitor vital signs and document all drugs taken and keep the container and/or label.
If Electroshock's are sustained longer than a few seconds, its most likely the patient will be severely burned. Call 911 immediately and if the patient is showing signs of weakness you might have to perform CPR. Do NOT touch the patient until the electrical current is clear. Use non-conductive materials to either turn off the electrical current or move the patient away from the electrical current. To relieve the pain of the shock you can raise the patient's part of the body, that was electrocuted, higher than the patient's heart. If the patient is non-responsive make sure to perform CPR.
There are 3 different kinds of Eye Injuries-a Black Eye, a Foreign Object caught in the eye and a Chemical Splash in the eye. Make sure to flush the eye, use eye solution, if necessary. Have the patient rinse his/her eye under lukewarm water, and if necessary, bring the patient to the hospital with the container and/or the label.
A Fracture can be very serious. If the bone is broken at the neck, head, or back, if the joint is deformed, if there's heavy bleeding, or any abnormalities, make sure to call 911 immediately. If the patient is unconscious or is pulse-less call 911 and perform CPR.
Head Injuries. If the patient is at all acting strange such as: slurring or is showing any signs of confusion, etc... make sure to call 911 immediately. Do NOT move the patient and do NOT apply any pressure upon any wounds. If the patient is non-responsive perform CPR.
When treating a patient who has had a Heart Attack make sure to call 911 immediately. If possible, rush the patient to the hospital, have the patient chew aspirin (unless allergic or told otherwise) and perform CPR, if necessary.
Hemorrhages there are 4 classes. Treatment: wrap the hemorrhage, call 911 or bring patient to the hospital.
Treatments for Hypothermia consist of keeping the patient warm, using, a warm dry compressor, changing the patient's wet clothing or materials, call 911 and/or bring the patient to the nearest hospital. If the patient is non-responsive or unconscious, perform CPR.
Nosebleeds are very common. If the nosebleed results from a serious accident, make sure to call 911. If the patient falls unconscious or is non-responsive make sure to perform CPR.
If a patient is ever Poisoned call 911, the National Capital Poison Center and/or bring the patient to the nearest hospital. Make sure to have the patient step outside for fresh air, flush the patient's eyes and mouth and/or have the patient wash his/her skin. Make sure to bring the container or pills with label to the hospital.
Punctured Wounds - If the patient falls unconscious or is non-responsive make sure to call 911 and perform CPR. Make sure to stop the bleeding. Make sure to clean the wound thoroughly and apply an ointment such as: Neosporin. If needed, have the patient take a pain-reliever. If there's an infection or if the wound doesn't heal within 2 weeks make sure the patient visits a hospital or sees a doctor.
Respiratory Arrest is the cessation of oxygenated blood throughout the body. CPR might need to be performed, call 911 immediately or bring the patient to the nearest hospital.
When dealing with Seizures make sure to stay clear of the patient (unless the patient is going to get hurt or hurt someone else), call 911 immediately and make sure not to restrain the patient.
When dealing with Shock make sure to raise the patient's legs above the heart, put the patient on his/her side for prevention of choking and perform CPR, if needed.
When dealing with a Spinal Injury make sure to call 911, immediately. Make sure not to move the patient unless it's necessary and only with 2 rescuers. If needed, perform CPR only using the jaw-thrust maneuver.
When dealing with Sprains & Strains make sure to wrap the injury, use an ice pack or cold cloth to keep the injury from swelling and use bandages for sprains or a brace.
Strokes are ruptured/blocked blood vessels in the brain. Strokes are the loss of oxygen to the brain which causes rapid deterioration. Perform CPR if needed, call 911 and/or bring the patient to the nearest hospital.
Bloodborne Pathogens Review
Viruses, Bacteria, Parasites
Pathogens:
• Hepatitis A, B, C Virus
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Other disease pathogens
• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
AIDS is the final stage of HIV, caused by damage to the immune system.
Difference between Acute and Chronic
Acute: First time infected.
Chronic: Second time infected, or more.
OSHA required Prevention:
• Engineering Controls
• Work Practices
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Universal Precautions
• Body Substance Isolation (BSI)
Engineering Controls
• Labeling of Infectious materials, cleaning, disposing, documenting, containment.
Sharp with Engineered Sharps Injury Protections (SESIP)
• Retractable needles, retractable finger-prick, needleless systems.
Proper recapping of needles
• One-handed motion
• Mechanical device
Injury
• Document injury
• Testing-successions
• Safe sexual contact
• Therapy/Counseling
• Stop breastfeeding
• Immediate evaluation of presumed illnesses
Work Practices
• Proper usage of tools
• Workstation and environment
• Personal Protective Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Equipment used for prevention of Bloodborne Pathogens and OPIM's.
Universal Precautions
All blood and other body fluids are to be considered infected besides
• Vomit, Nasal Fluids, Sweat, Tears, Saliva, Sputum, Urine
Body Substance Isolation (BSI)
BSI practices are used to lessen the chances of transmissions of any diseases and/or infections-all fluids are to be suspected of infectious diseases.
For Certification visit:
If you're interested in CPR, First-Aid and/or Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification visit http://www.nationalcprfoundation.com/ NCPRF has the most affordable prices online and all courses are AHA compliant and developed by AHA health advisers!

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