Basic Life Support (BLS) Training
What percent of adult patients with non-traumatic cardiac arrest who are treated by
EMS survive to hospital discharge? - answer10%
For the purposes of the BLS course, age definitions are as follows: - answer Adult: after
onset of puberty and older
Children: 1 year to puberty
Infant: <1 year of age
What are the components of CPR? - answer Airway check, chest compressions, and
breaths
What are the steps for high quality CPR? - answer1. Start compressions wishing 10
seconds of recognition of cardiac arrest
2. Push hard and fast (rate of 100-120/min)
3. Allow complete chest recoil after each compression
4. Minimize interruptions in compressions (less than 10 seconds)
5. Give effective breaths that make the chest rise
6. Avoid excessive ventilation
How deep should you compress for each age group? - answerAdults: at least 2 inches
Children: at least 1/3 of the depth of the chest; about 2 inches
Infants: at least 1/3 of the depth of the chest; about 1.5 inches
What is a cath lab? - answerA cardiac catheterization lab is a group of procedure rooms
in a hospital/clinic where specialized equipment is used to evaluate the heart and the
blood vessels around the heart and in the lungs
What does a cardiac catheterization procedure entail? - answerIt involves the insertion
of a catheter through an artery or vein into the heart to study the heart and its
surrounding structures and function. Measurements and contrast material can help
diagnose problems or the catheter can be used to fix some problem (like a blocked
artery)
How would you recognize that someone has had cardiac arrest? - answerThe victim will
be unresponsive, not breathing or only gasping, and no pulse
How does rapid defibrillation work and what effect does it have on a patient undergoing
cardiac arrest? - answerRapid defibrillation can identify lethal heart rhythms and deliver
a shock to terminate the abnormal rhythm and allow the heart's normal rhythm to
, resume. In conjunction with high-quality CPR, rapid defibrillation can double or triple the
chances of survival
In adults, cardiac arrest is often sudden and results from a cardiac cause. How does
cardiac arrest usually present in children? - answerIn children, cardiac arrest is often
secondary to respiratory failure and shock. Identifying children with these problems is
essential to reduce the likelihood of pediatric cardiac arrest and maximize survival and
recovery. Therefore, a prevention link is added in the pediatric Chain of Survival.
What is the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack? - answerSudden
cardiac arrest occurs when the heart develops an abnormal rhythm and can't pump
blood. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked
When does cardiac arrest occur (what happens with the cardiology)? - answerSudden
cardiac arrest results from an abnormal heart rhythm. This abnormal rhythm causes the
heart to quiver so it can no longer pump blood to the brain, lungs, and other organs.
Sudden cardiac arrest is often a "rhythm" problem.
When does a heart attack occur (what happens with the cardiology)? - answerA heart
attack occurs when a clot forms in a blood vessel carrying oxygenated blood to the
heart muscle. If the blocked vessel is not reopened quickly, the muscle normally
nourished by that vessel begins to die. A heart attack is a "clot" problem.
What happens after sudden cardiac arrest? - answerWithin seconds, the person
becomes unresponsive and is not breathing or is only gasping. Death occurs within
minutes if the victim does not receive immediate lifesaving treatment.
What happens after a heart attack? - answerSigns of a heart attack may appear
immediately or last weeks or longer, and may include severe discomfort in the chest or
upper body, shortness of breath, cold sweats, and nausea/vomiting. Typically during a
heart attack, the heart continues to pump blood. The longer the person with a heart
attack goes without treatment, the greater the possible damage to the heart muscle.
Occasionally the damaged heart muscle triggers an abnormal rhythm that can lead to
sudden cardiac arrest.
What are the symptoms of a heart attack in women? - answerCan be similar to those
occurring in men but women may be more likely to experience pain in the jaw, arms,
back, or neck as well as light-headedness and nausea/vomiting
What are the links in the IHCA? - answer1. Prevention and treatment of pre-arrest
conditions
2. Recognition of cardiac arrest and activation of emergency response team
3. High quality CPR
4. Rapid defibrillation
5. Multidisciplinary post-cardiac arrest care
What percent of adult patients with non-traumatic cardiac arrest who are treated by
EMS survive to hospital discharge? - answer10%
For the purposes of the BLS course, age definitions are as follows: - answer Adult: after
onset of puberty and older
Children: 1 year to puberty
Infant: <1 year of age
What are the components of CPR? - answer Airway check, chest compressions, and
breaths
What are the steps for high quality CPR? - answer1. Start compressions wishing 10
seconds of recognition of cardiac arrest
2. Push hard and fast (rate of 100-120/min)
3. Allow complete chest recoil after each compression
4. Minimize interruptions in compressions (less than 10 seconds)
5. Give effective breaths that make the chest rise
6. Avoid excessive ventilation
How deep should you compress for each age group? - answerAdults: at least 2 inches
Children: at least 1/3 of the depth of the chest; about 2 inches
Infants: at least 1/3 of the depth of the chest; about 1.5 inches
What is a cath lab? - answerA cardiac catheterization lab is a group of procedure rooms
in a hospital/clinic where specialized equipment is used to evaluate the heart and the
blood vessels around the heart and in the lungs
What does a cardiac catheterization procedure entail? - answerIt involves the insertion
of a catheter through an artery or vein into the heart to study the heart and its
surrounding structures and function. Measurements and contrast material can help
diagnose problems or the catheter can be used to fix some problem (like a blocked
artery)
How would you recognize that someone has had cardiac arrest? - answerThe victim will
be unresponsive, not breathing or only gasping, and no pulse
How does rapid defibrillation work and what effect does it have on a patient undergoing
cardiac arrest? - answerRapid defibrillation can identify lethal heart rhythms and deliver
a shock to terminate the abnormal rhythm and allow the heart's normal rhythm to
, resume. In conjunction with high-quality CPR, rapid defibrillation can double or triple the
chances of survival
In adults, cardiac arrest is often sudden and results from a cardiac cause. How does
cardiac arrest usually present in children? - answerIn children, cardiac arrest is often
secondary to respiratory failure and shock. Identifying children with these problems is
essential to reduce the likelihood of pediatric cardiac arrest and maximize survival and
recovery. Therefore, a prevention link is added in the pediatric Chain of Survival.
What is the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack? - answerSudden
cardiac arrest occurs when the heart develops an abnormal rhythm and can't pump
blood. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked
When does cardiac arrest occur (what happens with the cardiology)? - answerSudden
cardiac arrest results from an abnormal heart rhythm. This abnormal rhythm causes the
heart to quiver so it can no longer pump blood to the brain, lungs, and other organs.
Sudden cardiac arrest is often a "rhythm" problem.
When does a heart attack occur (what happens with the cardiology)? - answerA heart
attack occurs when a clot forms in a blood vessel carrying oxygenated blood to the
heart muscle. If the blocked vessel is not reopened quickly, the muscle normally
nourished by that vessel begins to die. A heart attack is a "clot" problem.
What happens after sudden cardiac arrest? - answerWithin seconds, the person
becomes unresponsive and is not breathing or is only gasping. Death occurs within
minutes if the victim does not receive immediate lifesaving treatment.
What happens after a heart attack? - answerSigns of a heart attack may appear
immediately or last weeks or longer, and may include severe discomfort in the chest or
upper body, shortness of breath, cold sweats, and nausea/vomiting. Typically during a
heart attack, the heart continues to pump blood. The longer the person with a heart
attack goes without treatment, the greater the possible damage to the heart muscle.
Occasionally the damaged heart muscle triggers an abnormal rhythm that can lead to
sudden cardiac arrest.
What are the symptoms of a heart attack in women? - answerCan be similar to those
occurring in men but women may be more likely to experience pain in the jaw, arms,
back, or neck as well as light-headedness and nausea/vomiting
What are the links in the IHCA? - answer1. Prevention and treatment of pre-arrest
conditions
2. Recognition of cardiac arrest and activation of emergency response team
3. High quality CPR
4. Rapid defibrillation
5. Multidisciplinary post-cardiac arrest care
