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Cardiac Arrest

What is cardiac arrest?
        Cardiac arrest is a condition when someone's heart suddenly stops beating. When the heart stops beating, this will cut off the blood flow from reaching the brain and other organs. It will cause a death if there is no early medical response.

What are the symptoms cardiac arrest?
    We can know that someone having a cardiac arrest when he/she:
        
  • Very tired
  • Dizziness
  • Weak
  • Short of breath
  • Sick in stomach
  • Chest pain
  • Suddenly collapsed
  • Lose consciousness
  • Have no pulse
  • Not breathing
    Sometimes, cardiac arrest happen with no signs at all !!

Who are at risk in getting cardiac arrest?

  1. Have coronary artery disease.
  2. A man.
  3. Have arrhythmias or someone in his/her family has.
  4. Smoker, drug abuser or alcoholic.
  5. Have had one or more heart attacks.
  6. Have diabetes, high blood pressure or heart failure.
  7. Obese.

What BLS for cardiac arrest?

  1. Danger 
    • Make sure your surrounding, the victim and any bystanders are in safe condition.
  2. Responsiveness
    • Check the victim for any response.
  3. Shout for help
    • Shout for help or activate Emergency Response System (ERS)
  4. Airway
    • Open the airway by 
      • Head tilt-chin lift- Place your hand on the forehead. Gently tilt the head back with your fingertips under the point of the victim's chin, lift the chin to open the airway.
      • Jaw thrust- Use index and middle fingers to physically push the posterior aspects of the mandible upwards while your thumbs push down on the chin to open the mouth.
  5. Breathing
    • Look for the normal breathing in not more than 10 seconds.
    • If the victim's breathing is absence or abnormal, start the chest compression and prepare for CPR.
  6. Send for AED
    • Send someone to get AED.
    • Do not leave the victim alone and start CPR.
  7. Chest compression
    • Location: Lower half of the sternum/ center of the chest.
  8. Rescue breath
    • By using Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM) ventilation.
    • The ratio of compression to ventilation is (30:2).
  9. Defibrillation
    • Defibrillation should be done as soon as it is available in shockable rhythm.
    • Resume chest compression immediately after defibrillation.
  10. Recovery position
    • Place victim in recovery position if his/her breath is normal but still unresponsive.



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