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SUNY Lifesaver
Program
Student
Manual
A picture of the SUNY Lifesaver Program emblem is shown here.
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Use Page Down and Page Up Button to navigate this manual.
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Preparation for the Course
Please read this manual carefully and review the related DVD. The manual
will take you through the important information related to CPR and use of an
Automated External Defibrillator or AED. The DVD will familiarize you with
the skills so that you will be ready to practice when you arrive in class. It will
only take about 30 minutes!
As you can see, this manual has both a written and audio component with
visuals to help you learn these lifesaving skills. This approach to education
will help maximize your learning and retention of the core skills. If you
would rather not listen to the audio, simply turn down the volume on your
speakers.
A photo of a set of keys appears here
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CPR and Defibrillation Save Lives
The primary message for the SUNY Lifesaver Program is simple; Early CPR and Early
Defibrillation save the lives of victims of sudden cardiac arrest!
You have chosen to serve as a SUNY Lifesaver and we appreciate your commitment.
Remember, the skills you learn in this course are not just for the workplace or school
setting. They can be valuable at home for loved ones and friends. Hopefully you will
never have to use these skills but if you do it could be one of the most rewarding and
important experiences of your life.
A photo of a man giving CPR to
a mannequin is shown
CPR
A photo of a man using a
defibrillator on a mannequin is
show
Defibrillation
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What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the United States.
Each year approximately 340,000 people die from sudden cardiac arrest. That
equals about 900 people a day!
The most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest is an abnormal heart rhythm
called ventricular fibrillation or VF. VF is a chaotic, quivering heart that results in
no blood flow to vital organs. If left untreated most people will die within 6
minutes.
However, if CPR is performed immediately and an electric shock of the heart
called defibrillation is provided early, the heart can convert back to a normal
rhythm, restoring blood flow to vital organs. In fact, the only effective treatments
for VF are CPR and defibrillation of the heart.
A photo depicting an EKG of a heart beat is shown.
Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)
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Time and AEDs
Survival from sudden cardiac arrest is very time dependant. Every
minute that passes from the moment of collapse until defibrillation is
administered will reduce the chance for survival by about 7 to 10
percent. During that time CPR can help deliver blood to vital organs
until the heart is restored to an effective rhythm by shocking the heart
with a defibrillator.
Survival
The above graph depicts the chance of survival as a function of time. After
ten minutes, there is less than 20% chance of survival.
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Learning CPR and AED
In this course you will be learning the skills of CPR and use of an AED using a
teaching method called practice-while-watching video instruction. This type of
training and been proven in scientific studies to be a highly effective way to learn and
remember the skills of CPR and use of an AED.
For this program to be successful three things must occur.
1.
You much watch the video carefully and perform the
skill exactly as shown on the screen paying close
attention to each detail.
2.
You must continue to practice as long as the skill is
shown on the screen. The key to learning is consistent and
repetitive practice!
3.
You will practice skills one more time at the end of the
program to reinforce and remember each part.
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Actions for a collapsed victim?
When encountering a collapsed victim you should start by checking to
see if the victim is responsive by tapping the victim’s shoulder and shouting
“Are you alright”. Does the victim respond? Does the victim move? If the
victim does not wake or move, you must quickly direct someone, “Go call
the Emergency Response System and get an AED”. If you are alone, call
the emergency response number, get an AED, and come back. You should
be familiar with your facilities number. Hopefully, more times than not, you
will not be alone. If you do send someone, you should perform CPR until
that person returns with the AED
A photo of a woman
checking for response on
a mannequin is shown
here
Check for Response
A photo of a man calling an
emergency response number is
shown here
Call Emergency
Response Number
Know your local emergency
response number.
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Check for Breathing
Once you send someone to call and get the AED check to see if the
victim is breathing. Put one hand on the forehead and two fingers on the
boney part of the chin. Tilt the head back and lift the chin. Place your ear
and cheek next to the victim’s mouth and nose and listen and feel for air
movement. Also look for chest rise.
A photo of a woman checking for breathing on a mannequin is shown here.
Check for Breathing
Look carefully at the position of
the rescuer’s fingers on the chin
and hand on the forehead.
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Rescue Breathing
If there is no air movement or chest rise, provide two rescue breaths using the mouth
to mask device. Position the mask, seal the upper portion with your index finger
and thumb. Pinch the lower portion between your thumb and two fingers at the
base of the chin. Tilt the head way back and provide a rescue breath through the
opening at the top of the mask while observing for chest rise.
A photo of a woman performing rescue breathing on a mannequin is shown here.
Rescue Breathing
Look carefully at the position
of the rescuer’s hands on the
mask device. Also note the
head tilt and observation of
chest rise.
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Chest Compressions
After delivering two breaths begin chest compressions. Remove clothing, place
your hands between the victim’s two nipples, position your shoulders over your
hands and begin compressions. Once again, compress hard and compress fast at
a rate of 100 compressions per minute. Be sure to allow the chest wall to return to
its normal position after each compression. Move the breastbone approximately 1 ½
to 2 inches.
Chest Compressions
Look carefully at the position of the
rescuer’s body, arms, and hands.
A picture is shown of a man performing chest compressions on a mannequin. He is
kneeling beside the mannequin with his hands on top of each other on the
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mannequin’s chest. His arms are stiff and applying pressure in a downward motion
onto the chest of the mannequin.
Summary of Adult CPR
Call Emergency
Response
Number/Get
AED
Check for
response
The photo above shows
a woman checking for a
response on a
mannequin
The photo above shows a man
calling an emergency
response number
Check for
Breathing
Rescue
Breathing Until
Chest rises
The photo above shows a
woman listening for breathing
from a mannequin.
Chest
Compressions
Hard and Fast
The photo above shows a
woman performing rescue
breathing on a mannequin.
The photo here shows a man
kneeling along side of a
mannequin with his hands on top
of one another on the
mannequin’s chest. His arms
extended out
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Use of an AED
Using an AED may seem like a challenging skill but it is truly the easiest part of this
program. An AED is a computerized defibrillator that talks you through the procedure
of defibrillation. Once you turn the device on by opening the cover, it will instruct you to
remove clothing and attach the AED pads. The machine will then advise you to clear
the victim and proceed to analyze the victim’s heart rhythm. If the victim is in
ventricular fibrillation it will charge and deliver a shock to the victim’s heart. You will be
instructed to start CPR. The machine will actually coach you through the procedure of
CPR. You will continue the process of CPR, analysis of the rhythm until one of two
things happen. The victim wakes up and begins to move or EMS arrives on the scene
and advises you to stop CPR. It is really that simple.
A photo of an AED
machine is shown here.
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AED Operation – Pad Placement
Position the AED next to the victim on the opposite side of the CPR rescuer. Open the
case and follow the instructions. Unwrap the pads…remove the covering from the
pads surface…place them as directed by the AED. Look carefully at the picture below
to see the proper position of the electrode pads. This position allows the electrical
current to travel through the heart and help convert the victim’s heart rhythm.
A photo of a man positioning
pads onto a mannequin’s
chest as instructed by the AED
kit is shown here.
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AED Operation – Clear and Shock
Once the pads are attached…stop CPR…clear everyone from the
victim and allow the device to analyze the rhythm. If the heart is in
a rhythm that requires a shock, the machine will automatically
charge. Again, make sure that everyone is clear of the victim,
including yourself. It will warn of the shock and deliver a single
shock. After the shock immediately start chest compressions and
provide 5 cycles of CPR. This will take approximately 2 minutes.
A photo of a man clearing people away from a mannequin that is
about to receive a shock from an AED is shown here.
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AED Operation – Clear and Shock
At the end of 5 cycles the machine will prompt you to reanalyze the rhythm. When this
occurs, stop CPR and allow the machine to analyze. The machine will either shock the
victim or advise to perform CPR. Again simply follow the instructions. Let’s review the
steps one more time:
Summary of Steps of AED Operation
 Place the AED opposite side of the CPR rescuer.
 Open the lid and follow the instructions.
 Remove clothing if not already done.
 Attach pads as shown on the AED.
 Clear the victim.
 Allow the machine to analyze.
 Make sure the everyone is clear.
 The machine will deliver a shock.
 Start 30 to 2 cycles of compressions and breaths.
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 Perform 5 cycles and continue until the victim wakes up or EMS directs you
to stop.
AED Operation – Special Situations
There are special situations that may have to be addressed when using an AED.
These include victims; with a hairy chest, those that are found in water, those with
an implanted pacemaker-defibrillator, or those who are wearing a medication patch.
Hairy Chest - When a victim has a very hairy chest the electrode pad may not
adhere to the skin. If this occurs the device will prompt you to check the electrode.
In this situation, press firmly on each electrode and allow the AED to re-analyze the
heart rhythm. If the message occurs again, remove the electrode pads, quickly
shave the chest with the razor in your kit and apply a second set of electrodes.
Water - Water is a good conductor of electricity. If the victim is lying in water
they should be moved to a dry location to avoid injuring rescuers. The chest of the
victim should also be dried with a towel before attaching the electrode pads.
Implanted Pacemaker-Defibrillator - A victim may be found with a “lump” on his
or her chest wall in the same location as where an AED electrode is applied. The
lump will look like the shape of a deck of cards under the skin. If this is noted place
the AED pads approximately an inch away from the pacemaker.
Medication Patch - A victim may be found with a medication patch placed on
their chest such as a nicotine or nitroglycerin patch. This can interfere with the
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function of the AED electrode pad. If you note a patch, remove it and clean the area
with a dry towel.
Choking
Every year approximately 3,900 people die from
choking. Management of a choking episode is fairly
A photo of someone choking is
shown here.
simple and involves recognition and actions.
When you encounter someone who appears to
be choking ask, “Are you choking.” If he or she
nods their head but cannot speak, perform
abdominal thrusts just above the navel and well
below the breastbone until the person can
speak or cough. If the victim becomes unconscious,
perform CPR. When you are opening the airway to
breathe, look for a foreign body. If you see it,
remove it.
A photo of a man checking for
foreign objects in the victims
mouth that may be causing a
blocked airway is shown here.
A photo of a man performing
abdominal thrusts is shown here
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Child CPR
The good news is that Child CPR is almost exactly the same as adult CPR.
The only significant difference is that you decrease the depth of chest
compressions and breathe less volume into the lungs. When providing
rescue breathing, breathe until the chest rises. When compressing the
chest move the breastbone about 1/3 to 1/2 the distance of the chest from
front to back. The compression rate remains at 100 compressions per
minute and the ratio of compressions to ventilations remains at 30:2. With
smaller children, you can use one arm to perform compressions.
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A man checking a mannequin
to see if it is breathing is
shown here.
Child AED
The use of AEDs on children is also the same as an adult. For the purposes of AED
use, a child is defined as someone who is 1 to 8 years of age. . The only difference is
that the child pads are used which reduce the delivered energy to the heart. You
should be careful not to use child AED pads on adults since the energy may not be
sufficient to convert the heart rhythm. . The pads are placed in the same position as
an adult. However, some AEDS recommend an alternate position with one pad in front
and the other pad in back. Check the manufactures recommendation on your device.
At this time the American Heart Association does not recommend for or against the
use of AEDs for infants less than one year of age.
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Infant CPR
The main differences when performing CPR on an infant victim is that you breathe
less during rescue breathing and compress less during chest compressions. You
use your fingers rather your hand to compress the chest. When compressing the
chest move the breastbone about 1/3 to 1/2 the distance of the chest from front
to back. The compression rate remains at 100 compressions per minute and the
ratio of compressions to ventilations remains at 30:2.
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A picture showing a woman performing rescue breathing during CPR on a child
mannequin is shown here.
Answer the following
questions to review the
knowledge you have just
learned.
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What 2 skills can help save
the life of a sudden cardiac
arrest victim?
Answer:
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CPR and defibrillation
For every minute that
passes without CPR and/or
defibrillation, how much will
the chance for survival
decrease for victims of
sudden cardiac arrest?
Answer:
7 to 10% per minute
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What are the first 3 actions
you should take when
encountering an adult
collapsed victim?
Answer:
 Check for response
 Send someone to call
the emergency response
number
 And get the AED.
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How do you know if a
rescue breath is effective?
Answer:
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The chest rises with each
breath.
Describe three qualities of
effective chest
compressions.
Answer:
 Compress hard (1½ to 2
inches)
 Compress fast (100
compressions per minute)
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 Allow the chest wall to return
to its normal position after
each compression
What are the correct
locations to place the AED
pads?
Answer:
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A picture showing AEDs placed on Mannequin’s upper right chest and one placed
on the lower left chest is shown here.