03 Feb, 2010
Child Basic Resuscitation :: restart the heart
Posted by: blissfule In: Perth ()
This week I'm sharing the notes I took during a half-day first aid course. I hope you enjoy and benefit from them, but please remember that this information is not a substitute for hands-on first aid training.
Never forget that the heart is a pump. When the heart stops, chest compressions keep the pump primed so that it can start back up more easily.
image source :: South Dartmoor Community College
Each person's heart is roughly the size of her clenched fist - this holds true from babies all the way through to adults.
In children, the most common reason for the heart stopping is
asphyxia. Therefore when a child's heart stops it usually lies completely still. CPR usually restarts the breathing and therefore the child's heart. A defibrulator is not useful in restarting a completely still heart. If a defibrulator is called for, it must be at a lower power than an adult defibrulator (50 jules rather than 150).
In adults, the most common reason for the heart stopping is
heart disease. Therefore when an adult's heart stops, it usually quivers as it tries to continue pumping. Compressions in CPR keep the heart primed and ready to resume pumping, but will not often restart a diseased heart. Defibrullation combined with CPR is often effective in restarting a quivering heart.
photo source :: buydefibrillator.co.uk
Lay people's defibrullators are becoming increasingly available. The most common place to find them is at the airport. The machines are straightforward to use and even include voice prompts. Additionally, the machine will not allow you to do anything unsafe or not indicated (for instance, it will not attempt to shock a heart that is lying completely still).
After giving a shock, restart chest compressions immediately. It will be clear if the heart has restarted.
Tomorrow I will talk about what to do if someone starts choking, a very relevant skill for those of us with enthusiastic young eaters!
