Recognizing and
Responding to Cardiac
Emergencies
You are walking down the hall at school and hear a
teacher call for help from their classroom…
What do you do first?
You approach the
teacher and they
Check the scene for
Your scene is safe are alert and
safety
oriented. What is
your next step?
You introduce yourself and explain you have first aid
training. You ask if you can help.
What is this called?
Obtaining Consent
What if they say “NO”
Can’t touch them,
if you think it is life threatening, call 911
Don’t worry they say, “Yes Please Help Me!”
What do you do next?
What types of signs (things you can see)
are you looking for?
Difficulty breathing, pale or cyanotic skin, life
threatening bleeding or injury
While you are looking for life threatening injuries,
you begin to ask your SAMPLE interview questions.
What would you ask them about in the “S” part of
the interview?
They tell you they have chest pain and feel
nauseous and dizzy. You notice they are having
trouble breathing and are pale and sweaty. What
should you do now?
You send a friend to get help
by calling 911 and going for
the AED. But they don’t know
where an AED is… Where can
you find an AED on our
campus?
Building 1 by the clinic
Building 4 2nd floor admin suite
Old Gym, New Gym
VPAC This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC
You did everything you have been taught in Medical
Class and EMS arrived to care for the teacher.
Sadly, you find out later the teacher didn’t make it…
Can you be sued?
No, you can’t be sued
You obtained consent
You did what you were trained to do
And you didn’t get paid.
What law protects you? This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under
CC BY-NC-ND
•Check the scene for safety
•Check the patient for
consciousness and/or life-
threatening injuries
•Call 911 if unconscious
and/or life-threatening
injuries
•Care until help arrives
10 minutes
Checking the person who appears unresponsive
Shout-Tap-Shout
1. Look for breathing
2. Look for severe bleeding
3. Look for a response
No longer than 10 seconds
4. Position on back if necessary
Let’s try it…
[Link] Agonal breathing
Patient Assessment:
What are symptoms of a heart
attack?
Symptoms of Heart Attack
• Chest pain/pressure/squeezing “ANGINA”
• Arm, neck, jaw, epigastric pain(heart burn)
• Difficulty Breathing
• Pale skin or cyanosis
• Diaphoresis (sweating)
• Nausea/Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Weakness/fatigue
• Unresponsiveness
Heart Attack vs Cardiac Arrest
Heart Attack/Myocardial Infarction Cardiac Arrest
• blood vessel is blocked to part of • Heart stops beating
the heart muscle causing the • Can be from a heart attack
cells to die
• Can be from an electrical
• occur with or without symptoms problem
• Symptoms often develop over a • Can occur suddenly with NO sym
short period of time ptoms
• May result in Cardiac Arrest
What to do if you
suspect a heart attack
• Call 911
• Loosen tight clothing
• Help patient to a
comfortable position
(usually sitting up)
• Be prepared to start CPR
• Check to see if patient
has prescription medicine
for chest pain.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
Call First or Care First?
If you are alone:
•Call First for if the cause is likely cardiac
• Anyone over 12 who is unresponsive
• Child or infant you saw suddenly collapse
• Child or infant with known heart condition
•Care First if it is a breathing emergency or severe
bleeding
• Child under 12
• choking
• Severe Allergy
• Severe Bleeding
• Drowning
• Drug Overdose
[Link]
Why do we call first on
adults and care first with
infants and children?
Adults almost always a CARDIAC arrest you need an AED
Infants &Children almost always a RESPIRATORY
arrest you need to get them breathing
Why do we need to call 911 immediately…
Average response time is less than 10 minutes
• Compressions only circulate blood
• Oxygen that is in the blood will only last a little over 5 minutes
• Brain cells will start to die with in 5-10 minutes without oxygen
• Defibrillation
• Only way to treat life threatening arrythmia that is responsible for most
cardiac arrests in adults
• Every minute defibrillation is delayed they lose 10% chance of survival
• Witnessed CPR with compressions and defibrillation 66% survival
• Some rhythms aren’t shockable (drowning, drug over dose, respiratory arrest
• Some patients are have more than just heart issues
• Bottom 3rd of the sternum at the nipple line Adult
• Two hands
• @least 2 inches (2-2.4) depth
CPR
• 100-120 compressions minute Summ
• If alone and no phone leave to get help
in almost all circumstances ary
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
• 30 Chest Compressions Child
• Bottom 3rd of the sternum at the nipple line
• One or Two hands
CPR
• About 2 in depth (1/3 depth of chest) Summ
• 100-120 compressions minute
• 2 Breaths ary
• Head tilt chin lift to neutral position
• (unless head/neck injury)
• Pinch Nose
• Mouth over mouth USE BARRIER if available
• Each breath 1 second, let the chest fall
in-between breaths
If alone and no phone give 5 cycles (2 min) of care
in almost all circumstances before leaving to get help
Infant CPR
•Two fingers in the
center of the chest
•Compress 1 ½ inches
•Rate 100-120
Breaths
Given over 1 second
Cover mouth and nose
Tilt head back into a
neutral position
Once you begin CPR when can you stop?
- Signs of life
- EMS or other trained person takes over
- You become exhausted and cannot continue
- The scene becomes dangerous
- If your decision was to care first and you have
completed 5 cycles without signs of life, stop to get help
Automated External Defibrillator-
• Used to stop rhythms that are often responsible for
cardiac arrest
• Ventricular fibrillation
• Ventricular tachycardia
• Every minute that goes by without defibrillation results in
up to a 10% loss of recovery
• Can be used on anyone: adults, children and infants
Right
Left
Step 1- Turn on the AED
Step 2- Follow the prompts
Do Not Touch the patient during analyzing
or shocking periods
