Chapter 7: Cardiac Emergencies
Terminology
 Cardiovascular disease
 Coronary heart disease
 Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
 Cardiac arrest
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Cardiac Chain of Survival
 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a combination of chest
compressions and rescue breathing.
 Cardiac Chain of Survival:
 Early recognition and early access
 Early CPR
 Early defibrillation
 Early advanced medical care
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Recognizing Signals of a Heart Attack
 Heart attacks are caused by an
obstruction in the coronary arteries.
 This blockage leads to death of the
heart muscle.
 Pain is described as—
 Uncomfortable pressure.
 Squeezing.
 Crushing.
 Tightness.
 Aching.
 Constricting.
 Heavy sensation in the chest.
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Recognizing Signals of a Heart Attack
(continued)
 Any severe chest pain, pain lasting longer than 3 to 5 minutes or
chest pain accompanied by other signals of a heart attack should
receive emergency medical care immediately.
 Other signals include—
 Trouble breathing.
 Paleness.
 Ashen skin or bluish skin, particularly around the face.
 Skin may also be moist.
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Recognizing Signals of a Heart Attack
(continued)
 As with men, women’s most common heart attack signal is chest
pain or discomfort.
 Women are somewhat more likely to experience other warning
signals, particularly—
 Shortness of breath.
 Nausea or vomiting.
 Back or jaw pain.
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Care for a Heart Attack
 Follow CHECK—CALL—CARE.
 Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
 Have the victim stop all physical activity.
 Loosen any restrictive clothing and have the victim rest.
 Monitor the victim closely.
 Be prepared to perform CPR or use an AED.
 Talk to bystanders to find out what happened.
 Assist the victim.
 Do not try to drive the victim to the hospital yourself.
 Demonstrate a calm, reassuring manner.
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Angina Pectoris
 Narrowing/spasm of coronary arteries decrease oxygen to
heart muscle tissue.
 Angina is the resulting pain associated with the oxygen debt.
 Angina seldom lasts longer than 3 to 5 minutes.
 Nitroglycerin temporarily widens the arteries and therefore
helps relieve the pain.
 If there is no relief after 10 minutes, call for help.
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Cardiac Arrest
 Absent or ineffective heart beat
 A victim in cardiac arrest is unconscious and shows no signs of
life.
 Signs of life include—
 Normal breathing.
 Movement.
 A pulse (for children and infants only).
 The victim’s skin may be pale, ashen or bluish, particularly
around the face. The face may also be moist from perspiration.
 In some cases, a victim of cardiac arrest may not have shown any
warning signals. This condition is called sudden death.
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Chapter 7-2: CPR &
Unconscious Choking
Cardiopulmonary Resucitation
If cardiac arrest:
 Unconscious
 Not breathing
 Shows no signs of life
Then perform:
 CPR = 30 compressions and 2 breaths for an adult.
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Unconscious Choking—Adult
 The most common cause of obstruction in an unconscious person
is the tongue.
 The care for an unconscious choking adult is very similar to the
skill of adult CPR.
 Chest compressions are used to help force air from the victim’s
lungs to dislodge a foreign object.
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Closing
 When performing CPR on an adult, give 30 chest compressions,
followed by 2 breaths, at a rate of about 100 compressions per
minute.
 The care for an airway obstruction for an unconscious adult is to
give CPR and check for an object in the mouth.
 Questions?
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Chapter 7-3: Adult AED
(Automated External Defibrillation)
Types of AEDs
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Citizen Responder and AED
 Most victims of sudden cardiac arrest need an electric shock,
called defibrillation.
 Each minute that defibrillation is delayed reduces the victim’s
chances of survival by about 10 percent.
 The sooner the shock is administered, the greater the
likelihood of the victim’s survival.
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Automated External Defibrillation
 Disease or injury can disrupt the heart’s electrical system
and damage the heart.
 An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a machine that
analyzes the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, tells you to
deliver a shock to a victim of a sudden cardiac arrest.
 This shock, called defibrillation, may help the heart
reestablish an effective rhythm.
 Defibrillation is not intended to restart a heart without any
electrical activity.
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Safety Precautions When Using an AED
 When using an AED, follow these precautions:
 Do not touch the victim while the AED is analyzing.
 Do not touch the victim while defibrillating.
 Do not use alcohol to wipe the victim’s chest dry.
 Do not defibrillate someone around flammable materials.
 Do not use an AED in a moving vehicle.
 Do not use an AED on a victim in contact with water.
 Do not use an AED and/or electrode pads designed for
adult victims on an infant or a child under age 8 or
weighing less than 55 pounds.
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Safety Precautions When Using an AED
(continued)
 Do not use an AED on a victim wearing a nitroglycerin
patch or other patch on the chest.
 Do not use a mobile phone or conduct radio transmission
within 6 feet of the AED.
 Do not place the pads directly over a pacemaker or other
implanted device.
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Skill Practice and Scenarios
 Now it is time to practice!
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