The Chain of Survival for Cardiac Arrest
The Chain of Survival is a term used to describe the care provided to a victim of sudden cardiac arrest. But what exactly are the individual links in the chain of survival? Let’s take a...
Category: CPR Blog
Can CPR Actually Revive Someone?
The short answer – it might do! The long answer is a bit more complicated, first, we need to understand how CPR works on a victim who has had a cardiac arrest. A cardiac...
Why are chest compressions so important in CPR?
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is the combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths used when a victim has a cardiac arrest. Recently, there has been more emphasis on ‘hands-only CPR‘ and the importance of delivering...
Can CPR be done with one hand?
Yes! There are certain situations when you should use one hand in order to deliver CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation). CPR involves chest compressions and rescue breaths in order to keep oxygenated blood flowing around the body....
What is Asystole?
A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops effectively pumping blood around the body. This causes immediate unconsciousness and breathing to stop. The heart is controlled by co-ordinated electrical activity (this is known as...
Special considerations when using a defibrillator
Using a defibrillator can be lifesaving for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are easy to use. There are several special circumstances to consider when using an AED. Excessive chest hair...
First aid steps for severe bleeding
Bleeding is a common first aid situation due to scrapes, cuts, and lacerations. Bleeding should be treated as a life-threatening condition if you are unable to control the bleeding through first aid procedures, there...
A guide to the respiratory system
The respiratory system enables oxygen to enter the bloodstream and waste products (eg Carbon Dioxide) to be removed. Air is drawn in through the mouth and nose, where it is warmed, filtered and moistened....
What are the signs and symptoms of hypoxia?
The medical term hypoxia means low oxygen levels in the blood. A low level of oxygen in the blood is potentially fatal, so it is very important that the First Aider recognizes the signs...
What is the Chain of Survival?
In order to maintain the oxygen supply to the body a person must be breathing, and their heart must be pumping blood around the body. If either of these two functions stops, the brain...
