Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

5 Cardiovascular Emergencies, CPR and AED C.P.R. (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) CPR combines two basic life support (BLS) skills, artificial circulation and artificial respiration. • Artificial Circulation – Chest compressions circulate blood to the brain, organs and body. • Artificial Respiration – Rescue breaths provide oxygen to the lungs. CPR is performed until the heart resumes beating, you hand over the patient to medical help, or you become too exhausted to continue.

Defibrillation has resuscitated many people and the best results come when it takes place within 2 minutes of cardiac arrest. This is the reason why public access to AEDs (automated external defibrillators) is so important. Remember that seconds are vital when a person is in cardiac arrest. Although AED’s are not part of Occupational Health and Safety legislation yet an AED should be used as soon as it becomes available.

Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

1 person CPR

147

www.preohs.com