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Basic life support
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== Indications == === Cardiac arrest === Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops pumping in a regular rhythm. In this situation, early defibrillation is the key to returning the patient's heart back to a normal rhythm. When a defibrillator is not readily available, a rescuer or bystander should keep the blood flowing by performing chest compressions and rescue breaths at an age-appropriate rate until it is. === Respiratory Arrest === Respiratory arrest is when there is no measurable breathing in a patient. It tends to occur in conjunction with cardiac arrest, but this is not always the case. Respiratory arrest is the most common indication of BLS in infants and toddlers. The most critical factor in restoring breathing in the patient is to provide high quality rescue breaths. === Shock === [[Shock (circulatory)|Shock]], also known as Inadequate Tissue Perfusion, is a life-threatening condition that occurs as a result of the disruption to 3 major components of the [[Circulatory system|cardiovascular system]]: Heart Function, Blood Vessel Function, and Blood Volume. [[Perfusion]] describes the process of adequate blood flow to the organs, where the waste and reactants that are involved in [[cellular respiration]] are removed or transported throughout the 3 parts of the cardiovascular system for [[metabolism]] to be processed effectively.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Surgeons |first=American Academy of Orthopaedic |title=Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured Essentials Package |date=2021-02-24 |publisher=Jones & Bartlett Learning |isbn=978-1-284-22722-2 |edition=12th |language=English}}</ref> However, if one part were to fail, important resources for cellular respiration such as [[oxygen]] would not be able to reach the organs that needs it function.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shock |url=https://medlineplus.gov/shock.html |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=medlineplus.gov}}</ref> In an attempt to compensate, the body diverts blood to organs that cannot tolerate the lack of blood, such as the heart and the brain, resulting in widespread [[vasoconstriction]], or thinning of the blood vessels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Services |first=Department of Health & Human |title=Shock |url=http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/shock |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au |language=en}}</ref> Consequently, blood is prevented from reaching organs that can tolerate the lack of perfusion, or hypoperfusion, in organs such as the skin, resulting in the typical presentation of pale and clammy skin conditions during [[Shock (circulatory)|shock]]. Moreover, disruptions may present specifically to each component or multiple systems may be affected at the same time, which generally results in the 3 designated types of shock: [[Obstructive shock|Obstructive]], [[Distributive shock|Distributive]], [[Hypovolemic shock|Hypovolemic]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Patel |first1=Samir |last2=Holden |first2=Kyle |last3=Calvin |first3=Bob |last4=DiSilvio |first4=Briana |last5=Dumont |first5=Tiffany |date=July–September 2022 |title=Shock |url=https://journals.lww.com/ccnq/abstract/2022/07000/shock.4.aspx |journal=Critical Care Nursing Quarterly |language=en-US |volume=45 |issue=3 |pages=225 |doi=10.1097/CNQ.0000000000000407 |pmid=35617089 |issn=0887-9303|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Typically, patients would have a presentation of shock at the [[Cryptic shock|Compensated]], Decompensated, and Irreversible Stage.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Haseer Koya |first1=Hayas |title=Shock |date=2024 |work=StatPearls |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531492/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |place=Treasure Island (FL) |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |pmid=30285387 |last2=Paul |first2=Manju}}</ref> === Drowning === In cases of drowning, rescuers should provide CPR as soon as an unresponsive patient is removed from the water. In particular, rescue breathing is important in this situation. A lone rescuer is typically advised to give CPR for a short time before leaving the patient to call emergency medical services. Since the primary cause of cardiac arrest and death in drowning and choking patients is hypoxemia, it is recommended to start with rescue breaths before proceeding to chest compressions (if pulseless). If the patient presents in a shockable rhythm, early defibrillation is still recommended. === Choking === {{See also|Choking#Treatment}} Choking occurs when a foreign body obstructs the trachea. Rescuers should only intervene in patients who show signs of severe airway obstruction, such as a silent cough, cyanosis, or inability to speak or breathe. If a patient is coughing forcefully, rescuers should not interfere with this process and encourage the patient to keep coughing. If a patient shows signs of severe airway obstruction, anti-choking maneuvers such as back slaps or in the most severe cases [[abdominal thrusts]] should be applied until the obstruction is relieved. If a patient becomes unresponsive he should be lowered to the ground, and the rescuer should call emergency medical services and initiate CPR. When the airway is opened during CPR, the rescuer should look into the mouth for an object causing obstruction, and remove with a finger sweep it if it is evident however many organisations state that the rescuer should not try to remove the foreign object as they might worsen the situation (either pushing it further down the trachea or initiating vomiting).{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}
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