Basic Life Support (BLS) and Airway Management

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the essential components of Basic Life Support (BLS), including the DRSABCD protocol, CPR technique specifications, AED usage, and the recognition and causes of airway obstruction.

BLS (Basic Life Support)

The recognition of sudden cardiac arrest, activation of the emergency response system, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and rapid defibrillation with an automated external defibrillator (AED).

DRSABCD

A mnemonic for the sequence of resuscitation: Danger, Responsiveness, Send (for help), Airway, Breathing, Chest compression, and Defibrillation.

Danger Assessment

The process of checking for safety hazards such as body fluid spills, sharps, electrical wires, or unstable equipment, and wearing personal protective equipment like masks, aprons, and gloves.

Responsiveness Check

Tapping both shoulders twice and calling out, 'Hello, hello are you ok?' to determine if the victim is conscious.

Send for help

The act of shouting, 'Emergency! Emergency! Bring the resuscitation trolley & defibrillator!' after suspecting cardiac arrest.

Head tilt–chin lift maneuver

The technique used by healthcare providers to open the airway of a victim who has no evidence of head or neck trauma.

Breathing Assessment

Looking at the chest, neck, and face for no more than $10\,\text{seconds}$ to identify the absence of breathing or abnormal breathing (including agonal breathing).

Chest Compressions

Forceful rhythmic applications of pressure over the lower half of the sternum or center of the chest between the nipples.

Adult Compression Rate

A rate of at least $100$ to $120\,\text{compressions per minute}$.

Adult Compression Depth

A depth of at least $2\,\text{inches/5\,cm}$ but not more than $2.4\,\text{inches/6\,cm}$.

Chest Wall Recoil

Allowing the chest to fully return to its original position after each compression, which allows the heart to fill with blood.

Compression-to-Ventilation Ratio

The recommended ratio of $30:2$ for adult resuscitation.

Rescue Breath Duration

Each breath should be delivered over $1\,\text{second}$.

Rescue Breath Tidal Volume

A volume sufficient to produce visible chest rise, estimated to be about $500\text{-}600\,\text{mls}$.

Advanced Airway Ventilation Rate

When an Endotracheal Tube (ETT) or Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) is placed, $1\,\text{breath}$ every $6\,\text{seconds}$ should be performed.

Defibrillation Sequence

1. Turn the AED on. 2. Follow the AED prompts. 3. Resume chest compressions immediately after the shock.

AED (Automated External Defibrillator)

A device used for early defibrillation, which is the single acute intervention that significantly affects survival in sudden cardiac arrest.

Irreversible Cerebral Damage

Brain damage that can occur if circulation fails for $3\text{-}4\,\text{minutes}$, or less if the patient is initially hypoxemic.

Common Causes of Airway Obstruction

Displaced tongue, fluids (vomit, blood), foreign bodies (dentures), laryngeal edema, bronchospasm, and pulmonary edema.

'Look, Listen and Feel' Approach

A method to recognize airway obstruction by looking for chest/abdominal movements, listening for airflow at the mouth/nose, and feeling for airflow.

Gurgling

A noisy breathing sound indicating the presence of fluid, such as secretions, in the main airways.

Snoring

A sign of partial airway obstruction caused by the tongue partially occluding the pharynx.

Inspiratory Stridor

A sign of upper airway obstruction at or above the level of the larynx, caused by factors like foreign bodies or laryngeal edema.

Expiratory Wheeze

A sign of lower airway obstruction, typically associated with asthma.

See-saw Breathing

A characteristic of complete airway obstruction where paradoxical movements occur: the chest is drawn inwards and the abdomen expands during inhalation, and vice versa during exhalation.