CHAPTER 6 Cardiac Emergencies

Cardiac Chain of Survival  Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a combination of chest compressions and rescue breathing. Cardiac Chain of Survival:  Early recognition and early access  Early CPR  Early defibrillation  Early advanced medical care

Recognizing Signals of a Heart Attack  Pain is described as—  Uncomfortable pressure.  Squeezing.  Crushing.  Tightness.  Aching.  Constricting.  Heavy sensation in the chest.  Trouble breathing.  Paleness.  Ashen skin or bluish skin, particularly around the face.  Skin may also be moist.

Recognizing Signals of a Heart Attack  Any severe chest pain lasting longer than 3 to 5 min. or any other signals should receive medical care immediately.

Recognizing Signals of a Heart Attack  As with men, women’s most common heart attack signal is chest pain or discomfort.  Women are somewhat more likely to experience other warning signals:  Shortness of breath.  Nausea or vomiting.  Back or jaw pain.

Care for a Heart Attack  Follow CHECK—CALL—CARE.  Call  Have the victim stop all physical activity.  Loosen any restrictive clothing and have the victim rest.  Monitor the victim closely.  Be prepared to perform CPR or use an AED.  Talk to bystanders to find out what happened.  Do not try to drive the victim to the hospital yourself.

Angina Pectoris  Angina pectoris develops when the heart needs more oxygen than it gets.  When the coronary arteries are narrow and the heart needs more oxygen, heart muscle tissues may not get enough oxygen.  Pain associated with angina seldom lasts longer than 3 to 5 minutes.

Cardiac Arrest  Cardiac arrest: heart stops beating or beats too ineffectively to generate a pulse and blood cannot be circulated to the brain and other vital organs.  A victim in cardiac arrest is unconscious and shows no signs of life.

Cardiac Arrest  Signs of life include—  Normal breathing.  Movement.  A pulse (for children and infants only).  The victim’s skin may be pale, ashen or bluish. The face may also be moist from perspiration.  Sometimes a victim of cardiac arrest doesn’t show any warning signals. This is called sudden death