601: Basic Life Support

Basics Treatments

Pulse - Can be taken on the patient’s wrist, neck, feet, and other places. Determines heart rate in a minute (beats per minute). CPR is only initiated if pulse is 0. Base pulse rate for an adult is 60 BPM.

Breathing - Listening to quality of breathing and amount of breathing in a minute. You use a stethoscope to listen to the patient’s quality of breathing to determine if the lung is punctured, damaged, or full of water/smoke. Base Respiratory rate for an adult is 20 RR. Can also be measured with a pulse oximeter, which reads in O2%. Any O2 saturation reading below 90% requires that the patient is administered oxygen.

Blood Pressure - Uses a blood pressure cuff. Low blood pressure can indicate substantial loss of blood. High blood pressure can indicate underlying conditions, such as potential heart attack. Base BP for an adult is 120/80 mmHg.

Tools

KED: a Kendrick’s Extrication Device - Secures the patient’s spinal column.

Pulse Oximeter: measures the amount of oxygen in the patient’s blood as a percentage.

Bag valve mask (BVM): The bag valve mask consists of a mask hooked up to a bag and an O2 tank. The bag is squeezed once every 30 seconds to simulate breathing.

Non-rebreather mask: creates a seal around the patient’s mouth and nose, allowing the delivery of oxygen to the patient’s lungs

Nasopharyngeal airway (NPA): Airway that goes down the patient’s nasal cavity. Used to bypath the mouth if it is obstructed.

Oropharyngeal airway (OPA): Airway that goes through the patient’s mouth to provide a pathway for oxygen.

Sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff): measures a patient’s blood pressure in mmHg (millimeters Mercury) giving a systolic/diastolic pressure.

Automated External Defibrillator (AED): measures a patient’s heart rate. Will recommend shock only if the patient’s heart has a shockable rhythm. If the patient has a normal rhythm or no heartbeat, the AED will not recommend a shock.