Understanding Sudden Cardiac Arrest And How To Administer CPR

by Tyler P. A Passionate Blogger - Entertainment

Enroll in basic life support training online offers a convenient and affordable way to learn vital CPR skills. These skills are essential at a time when sudden cardiac arrest incidences are on the rise around the world. As nurses, this training can make a big difference as you’re always dealing with patients in critical condition.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest

If someone experiences an abrupt cessation of consciousness, breathing, and heart function, they have suffered sudden cardiac arrest. When you enroll in basic life support training, you can learn more about it. You can also look for the best safeguarding adults level 3 training online to know how to better protect your patients.

Moving forward, it is important to differentiate between a sudden cardiac arrest and a heart attack. The latter is when blood flow to a certain part of the heart is blocked. However, sometimes a heart attack can cause an electrical disturbance leading directly to a sudden cardiac arrest and it can be fatal. However, it is possible to survive it if the victim receives quick and appropriate care. CPR performed using a defibrillator is the most effective way of saving lives after a sudden cardiac arrest. Manual chest compressions, when administered correctly, can also save a life if done without any delay.

Symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Arrest
You can identify the incidence of a sudden cardiac arrest from clear and drastic symptoms:
- Someone collapses unexpectedly
- They have no detectable pulse
- The show inability to breathe

-. They fall unconscious

Quite often, sudden cardiac arrest occurs without a warning. In many cases though, patients experience other signs and symptoms before undergoing sudden cardiac arrest. The most common of these include:

- Tightness and discomfort in the chest
- Difficulty in breathing
- General weakness and dizziness

- Palpitations of the heart

Identifying the Danger Signs

It is possible to stop or prevent sudden cardiac arrest if patients take heed of early warning signs. The most indicative danger signs include:

●Discomfort or pain in the chest
●Unfamiliar wheezing
●Difficulty in breathing
●Episodes of feeling faint, lightheaded, or dizziness
●Short episodes of fainting or losing consciousness

●Palpitations of the heart

If the patient experiences any of these above symptoms, you can start performing basic life-saving techniques.

What to Do If Someone Has a Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

If you see someone who has the signs and symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest, here are the steps to follow:

Perform CPR

Check to see if the patient is breathing. If they are not, try to clear whatever obstruction is blocking the airway. Deliver CPR by first pressing hard and fast on the patient's chest, delivering compressions at the rate of 100 to 120 in a minute. Offer the victim two rescue breaths after every 30 compressions.

Attempt Resuscitation with Portable Defibrillator

If a portable defibrillator is available, use it to try to resuscitate the victim. Defibrillators are fitted with an ability to provide step-by-step voice instructions once switched on. Check the victim's heartbeat. Repeat the cycle until the victim's heart is beating or until the emergency rescue team arrives.

We can avoid most deaths resulting from sudden cardiac arrest if more nurses learn how to perform CPR correctly. Learning BLS courses is a good way to get started.