The document provides information on basic life support (BLS). It describes BLS as procedures to restore oxygenated blood circulation after cardiac or respiratory arrest. The objectives are to support breathing through rescue breathing or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). BLS is indicated for respiratory or cardiac arrest. The key steps involve checking for response, breathing, pulse, providing rescue breaths or chest compressions, and use of an automated external defibrillator if needed. The document outlines specific techniques for airway management, rescue breathing, chest compressions, and special considerations for one or two rescuers.

1. BASIC LIFE SUPPORT
Sharon Treesa Antony
Junior Lecturer
Govt.College of Nursing, Kottayam

2. BLS
 Sequences of procedures performed to
restore the circulation of oxygenated blood
after a sudden pulmonary and/or cardiac
arrest.

3. OBJECTIVES
 Supports the ventilation of a victim of
respiratory arrest with rescue breathing
 Support the ventilation and circulation of a
victim of cardiac arrest with cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR).

4. INDICATIONS
 Respiratory arrest
 Cardiac arrest

5. SEQUENCE
 C : Circulation
 A : Airway
 B : Breathing
 D : Defibrillation

6. STEPS
 Ensure safety
 Check response: tap at the shoulders and
shout ‘Are you OK?’
 If responsive, leave in position and get
assistance. Reassess regularly

7. IF UNRESPONSIVE
 Shout for help and activate Emergency
medical service ( automated external
defibrillator/ Advanced cardiac life support
ambulance.)
 Check pulse and breathing at the same
time
(Carotid pulse and rise and fall of chest )
 Take at least 5-10seconds and never >10
seconds

9. IF PULSE AND BREATHING PRESENT BUT UNRSPONSIVE
 Turn to recovery position
 Check for continued breathing
 Get assistance

10. IF PULSE IS PRESENT BUT NO NORMAL BREATHING
 Provide rescue breathing after clearing
airway
 Head tilt -chin lift maneuver

11. HEAD TILT-CHIN LIFT MANEUVER
 Place your palm on the patient’s forehead
and apply pressure to tilt the head backward.
 Place the fingers of your other hand under
the mental protuberance of the chin and pull
the chin forward

12.  Jaw thrust maneuver: in suspected spinal
injury

13. JAW THRUST MANEUVER
 Place your fingers on the lower rami of the
jaw.
 Provide anterior pressure to advance the jaw
forward.

14. MOUTH TO MOUTH BREATHING
 Pinch nose
 Seal the victim’ s mouth with your mouth (use
a barrier device)

15.  Check for rise and fall of chest with each
breath
 Can use AMBU bag ( Artificial Mandatory
Breathing Unit) in hospital setting
 EC
 technique

16. PROVIDING RESCUE BREATHS
 1 breath every 5-6 seconds OR 10-12
breaths/ min
 Check pulse every 2 minutes
 Allow time for the air to expel from the
patient.

17. IF NO BREATHING AND PULSE
 Start cardio pulmonary resuscitation
1. Chest compressions
2. Rescue breaths

18. CHEST COMPRESSIONS
 Place your palms on the midline, of chest,on the
nipple line
 Lock your arms.
 Use heel of the hand

19.  Using two arms press to a depth of 2 to 2.4
inches (5-6cm) or more on the patient’s
chest.
 Provide 100 to 120 compressions per
minute.
 Press hard and fast.
 Allow for full chest recoil with each
compression.
 1 cycle of adult CPR is 30 chest
compressions to 2 rescue breaths ( 30:2)

20. IF 2 RESCUERS
 Switch rolls between compressor and rescue
breather every 5 cycles.

21. DEFIBRILLATION
 Arrival of the AED (Automated External Defibrillator)
 Power:
Turn AED On
 Follow verbal AED prompts.
 Attachment:
Firmly place appropriate pads (adult/pediatric) to
patient’s skin to the indicated locations (pad image).
 Analyze:
A short pause in CPR is required to allow the AED to
analyze the rhythm.

23.  If the rhythm is not shockable:
 Initiate 5 cycles of CPR.
 Recheck the rhythm at the end of the 5 cycles of CPR.
 If the shock is indicated:
 Assure no one is touching the patient by yelling “Clear, I’m Clear,
you’re Clear!” prior to delivering a shock.
 Press the shock button when the providers are clear of the
patient.
 Resume 5 cycles of CPR.

24. SCHAFFER’S METHOD
 Used when casualty is lying with the face
down.
 Place him with forehead resting on the
overlapped hands
 Turn the face to one side
 Kneel at his side just below his hip joint
 Place your hands on his loins one on either
side of the vertebrae with both wrists almost
touching each other

25. CONT..
 With the thumbs apart close fingers together at
the side of loins with fingers pointing towards
the ground.
 Now slowly lean forward without bending the
elbow with the shoulder coming vertically above
the hands
 Apply pressure of your body weight on his loin
for 2 seconds. This leads to compression of
abdominal organs against the ground and up
against the diaphragm to force air out of the
lungs

26.  Release pressure. It causes abdominal
organs and diaphragm to fall back and allow
for inspiration.
 Complete these two phases in 5 seconds(
12/ min

27. SYLVESTER METHOD
 Used when the casualty is trapped on his
back
 Keep him in a tilted position by placing a
folded clothing/ pad between the shoulders.
 Kneel at the head end of the casualty.
 Grasp the wrists of casualty and cross them
over the lower chest
 Rock your body with the back straight

28. CONT..
 Press down firmly with hands over the
casualty’s wrists which are kept over the
lower chest for 2 second and release
 Draw the casualty’s arms upwards and
outwards as far as possible for 3 seconds
and bring back to the previous position
 Rate:12/ minute
 Check for heart beat after 4 sequences and
continue till natural breathing is restored

29. THANK YOU