Heartbreakers
This classic symptom of cardiac ischemia is present in fewer than half of all MI patients.
Chest pain
Skin that is cool, pale, and clammy suggests this problem.
Poor perfusion
Nausea, sweating, and fatigue in an older adult may indicate this serious condition—even without chest pain.
Myocardial infarction
This assessment tool helps you quickly identify life threats.
Primary assessment
The recommended adult CPR compression rate is this.
100–120 per minute
This assessment finding suggests the heart is failing to pump effectively and fluid is backing up into the lungs.
Crackles / pulmonary edema
This is often the FIRST sign of shock in adults.
Tachycardia
Anxiety and cardiac emergencies can look similar because both may cause this breathing complaint.
Shortness of breath
Asking “Can you tell me what you’re feeling right now?” is an example of this communication technique.
Open-ended questioning
High-quality CPR requires compressions at least this deep in adults.
At least 2 inches
A patient with a heart rate of 38 bpm, dizziness, and hypotension is likely experiencing this problem.
Symptomatic bradycardia
A patient with weak pulses, delayed cap refill, and altered mental status is likely experiencing this condition.
Shock
Women and elderly patients are more likely to present with these “atypical” cardiac symptoms.
Nausea, weakness, jaw/back pain, fatigue
This part of the assessment focuses on chief complaint, SAMPLE history, and OPQRST.
Secondary assessment
This device should be applied as soon as possible for a pulseless patient.
AED/Defibrillator
This heart rhythm may feel fast and regular and can cause palpitations, anxiety, and shortness of breath.
SVT (supraventricular tachycardia)
In cardiogenic shock, giving large amounts of fluid can worsen this problem.
Pulmonary edema / fluid overload
Normal vital signs early in a call do NOT rule out this condition.
Shock (or cardiac emergency)
Acknowledging a patient’s fear without dismissing it demonstrates this skill.
Therapeutic communication / empathy
Minimizing interruptions in compressions helps improve this outcome.
Coronary and cerebral perfusion / chance of ROSC
This type of shock occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.
Cardiogenic shock
This blood pressure finding often indicates late or decompensated shock.
Hypotension
This GI complaint should raise concern for a cardiac cause in high-risk patients.
Epigastric pain / indigestion-like pain
This finding should ALWAYS prompt immediate transport, regardless of patient reassurance.
Altered mental status
This is the MOST important treatment for a patient in cardiac arrest.
High-quality CPR