Download heart attack

Chapter 2
Cardiac Emergencies
Cardiac Emergencies
Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Identify the common cause of a heart attack
List signs and symptoms of a heart attack
Identify the care for a heart attack
Recognize the primary signs of cardiac arrest
Describe the purpose of CPR
Be able to perform CPR
List conditions in which a rescuer may stop
CPR
Heart Attack
Like all living tissue, the cells of the heart need a
continuous supply of oxygen. The coronary arteries
supply the heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood. If the
heart is deprived of this blood, it dies.
If enough of the muscle dies, the heart cannot circulate
blood effectively, causing a heart attack.
A heart attack interferes with the heart’s electrical and
mechanical systems. This interference may result in an
irregular heartbeat, which may prevent blood from
circulating effectively.
http://www.instructorscorner.org/media/videos/f5.html
Common Cause of a Heart attack
A Heart attack is usually the result of
cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease).
This is the leading cause of death for adults over 44
years of age in the U.S.
 70 million Americans suffer from this.
 1 million deaths annually/500,000 are due to heart
attacks
 Cardiovascular disease develops slowly. Fatty
deposits of cholesterol and other material may
gradually build up on the inner walls of the arteries.

Signs and Symptoms
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Persistent chest pain or discomfort, sometimes
confused with indigestion, (a muscle spasms)
Heart burn to unbearable crushing pain
Breathes noisily, short of breath, faster than
normal
Skin = ashen, pale, bluish - profuse sweating
Nausea/vomit
http://www.instructorscorner.org/media/videos/b1.html
Care for a Heart attack
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Recognize the signs and symptoms of a heart attack
Call EMS
Convince the victim to stop activity and rest
Help the victim rest comfortably
Comfort victim
Assist the victim with medication, if prescribed
(Nitroglycerin - vasodilator)
Be prepared to give CPR if the victim’s heart stops
beating.
Cardiac Arrest/Common Causes
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating or
beats too ineffectively to generate a pulse and blood
cannot be circulated.
 Cardiovascular disease is the most common.
 Drowning, suffocation, and certain drugs can cause
breathing to stop, which will soon lead to cardiac arrest.
 Severe injuries to the chest or severe blood loss can also
cause the heart to stop.
 Electrocution disrupts the heart’s electrical activity
 Stroke or other types of brain damage can also stop the
heart
Cardiac Chain of Survival

The greatest chance of survival from cardiac
arrest occurs when the following sequence of
events happens:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Early Recognition
Early CPR
Early Defibrillation
Early Advanced care
http://www.instructorscorner.org/media/videos/j10.html
Purpose of CPR
A victim who is not breathing and has no pulse is
said to be clinically dead. However, the cells of
the brain and other vital organs will continue to
live for a short period of time until oxygen is
depleted. This victim needs cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR)
Without CPR, the brain will begin to die within 4
to 6 minutes. This irreversible damage caused by
brain cell death is known as biological death.
CPR


If a person is in cardiac arrest, they are
unconscious, not breathing and show no other
signs of life.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can help
circulate blood that contains oxygen to vital
organs by combination of chest compressions
and rescue breaths.
CPR Adult

Give cycles of 30 chest compressions with 2 rescue breaths.





Position hands in the center of the chest over the breastbone
Position the shoulders over the hands
Compress the chest smoothly to a depth of at least 2 inches 30 times in
about 18 seconds
Give 2 rescue breaths
Continue CPR until:





Scene becomes unsafe
You find signs of life
An AED is ready
You are too exhausted to continue
Another trained responder arrives and takes over.
http://www.instructorscorner.org/media/videos/b2.html
CPR Child

Give cycles of 30 chest compressions with 2 rescue breaths.





Position hand in center of the child’s chest and the other hand on the
forehead to maintain an open airway
Position the shoulders over the hands
Compress the chest smoothly to a depth of about 2 inches 30 times in
about 18 seconds
Give 2 rescue breaths
Continue CPR until:





Scene becomes unsafe
You find signs of life
An AED is ready
You are too exhausted to continue
Another trained responder arrives and takes over.
CPR Infant

Give cycles of 30 chest compressions with 2 rescue breaths.




Position 2 or 3 fingers in center of the infant’s chest and the other hand
on the forehead to maintain an open airway
Compress the chest smoothly to a depth of about 1 ½ inches 30 times in
about 18 seconds
Give 2 rescue breaths
Continue CPR until:





Scene becomes unsafe
You find signs of life
An AED is ready
You are too exhausted to continue
Another trained responder arrives and takes over.
http://www.instructorscorner.org/media/videos/b4.html
Do Not Stop CPR unless:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
You see an obvious sign of life such as
breathing.
An AED is ready to use.
Another trained responder or EMS personnel
take over.
You are too exhausted to continue.
The scene becomes unsafe.
AED Basics
Automated External Defibrillator


An AED is a portable electronic device than
analyzes the heart’s electrical rhythm and if
necessary prompts you to deliver a shock to a
person in sudden cardiac arrest.
If a person is unconscious and not breathing,
use an AED as soon as available in conjunction
with CPR




AEDs can help the heart re-establish an effective
rhythm by delivering a shock that disrupts the
chaotic electrical activity of the heart long enough
for the heart to establish an effective rhythm on its
own.
AEDs are simple and save to use when the
manufacturer’s instructions are followed.
The sooner an AED is used and CPR is performed,
the more likely the person will survive.
AEDs can be used on anyone in cardiac arrest,
including children and infants.
http://www.instructorscorner.org/media/videos/j15.html