Tuesday, September 16, 2008

ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation)

In basic life support the ABC's are part of the primary assessment. A BLS provider must determine if the patient is able to maintain there own ABC's (Airway Breathing Circulation). Patients who are unresponsive, but still breathing may need ventilatory assistance depending on the rate and quality of there breathing. Patients who are not breathing definitely need ventilatory assistance and may need chest compression if there is no pulse.
When assessing for breathing you will need to look, listen, and feel for breathing for 5-10 seconds. The patient will need to be on their back face up (supine). Your ear should be close to the patients mouth and you should be looking at the chest. If there is no indication of breathing, tilt the head and lift the chin. Depending on the setting and what you have available, you may use a breathing device to give breaths or if appropriate, use your mouth. If using your mouth, pinch the nose and give two slow breaths watching for the chest to rise and fall. Make sure that you have the head tilted back with the chin facing up (adults). Then you will need to go to the carotid artery and check for a pulse. If you find a pulse, this means that the heart is working and no chest compressions are needed. In this case the patient needs rescue breathing until help arrives or their condition changes. If there is no pulse present of you are unsure if a pulse is present, then CPR needs to be started.
acls provider acls pals classes bls class basic cardiac life support online advanced cardiac life support pediatric bcls advanced life support course acls pals provider certification certificate courses , Turner, Stayton, Sublimity, Silver Falls, Lyons, Mill City, Gates, Scio Carbtree, Albany, Millersburgh, Jefferson, Corvallis, Independence, Monmouth, Dallas Rickreall, Keizer, Falls City, Lebanon, Detroit, Sheridan, Amity, Grevais, Brooks, Woodburn, Mt. Angel, Scotts

No comments: