BLS Basics
This is the ideal rate of chest compressions per minute for an adult.
What is 100 to 120 compressions per minute?
This airway adjunct is measured from the corner of the mouth to the angle of the jaw and is only used on unconscious patients.
What is an Oropharyngeal Airway (OPA)
This is the most common initial rhythm witnessed in sudden cardiac arrest.
What is Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)?
This drug is the primary vasopressor given every 3 to 5 minutes during a cardiac arrest.
What is Epinephrine?
This is the primary goal of post-resuscitation care.
What is to identify and treat the core etiology (underlying cause) of the arrest?
When performing CPR on an adult, the sternum should be compressed to at least this depth.
What is 2 inches (5 cm)?
To achieve the highest possible FiO_2 with a bag-mask device, the oxygen flow should be set to this range.
What is 10 to 15 L/min?
Unlike defibrillation, this electrical therapy is "synchronized" and used for patients who still have a pulse but are unstable.
What is Synchronized Cardioversion?
If a peripheral IV cannot be established, drugs may be administered through this route into the bone marrow.
What is Intraosseous (IO) access?
This monitoring tool is used to identify ROSC (Return of Spontaneous Circulation) by measuring exhaled carbon dioxide.
What is Capnography (or EtCO_2)?
This is the compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single-rescuer performing CPR on an infant.
What is 30:2? (Note: It changes to 15:2 for two-rescuer, but 30:2 is the universal starting point for single rescuers).
This manual technique is used to hold a mask tightly over the nose and mouth during ventilation.
What is the E-C clamp technique?
These two specific "pulseless" rhythms are considered "non-shockable."
What are Asystole and Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA)?
This metabolic condition, common during cardiac arrest, can impede the action of drugs and diminish the effectiveness of shocks.
What is metabolic acidosis?
This legal document specifies that a patient does not want CPR to be initiated.
What is a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order or Advanced Directive?
This pulse site should be checked in an unresponsive adult or child older than 1 year.
What is the carotid or femoral artery?
Once an advanced airway (like an ETT) is in place, ventilations should be delivered at this frequency during continuous compressions.
What is one breath every 6 to 8 seconds?
This rhythm is characterized by a rapid, regular rate of 140–220 bpm and wide, "prolonged chain" QRS complexes.
What is Ventricular Tachycardia (VT)?
To ensure a drug reaches the central circulation from a peripheral IV, it should be followed by this
What is a 20-ml bolus of IV fluid and elevation of the extremity?
During post-arrest care, mechanical ventilation is adjusted to maintain this blood gas value at a normal level.
What is PaCO_2?
This specific respiratory sign, characterized by occasional gasping at a rate of <6 bpm, is an indication to start CPR.
What is agonal breathing?
This maneuver, involving light pressure on the neck, is used to minimize gastric inflation during bag-mask ventilation.
What is cricoid pressure?
This type of VF is characterized by widened complexes that lose amplitude and begin to resemble a "coarse asystole."
What is Fine VF?
This level of oxygen should be administered initially to all patients during an adult cardiac arrest, regardless of toxicity concerns.
What is 100%?
These are two physical signs that a patient is "biologically dead," making CPR futile.
What are rigor mortis or decapitation? (Note: The slides specifically mention rigor mortis).