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Early
Access:
Call 999 (or the EMS system in your area) and get an AED! |
Recognize an Emergency.
First, you or other witnesses must recognize the emergency. You must recognize the warning
signs of a heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke, or choking. Anyone who is unresponsive
should receive emergency care. Heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke, and foreign-body
airway obstruction can each cause unresponsiveness. Although many conditions — not
just cardiac arrest — can cause unresponsiveness, all unresponsive victims will
benefit from activation of the Chain of Survival.
Call 999/991 (or the EMS system in your area).
As soon as an emergency is recognized, call 999/991. When you or another rescuer calls
999/991, let the dispatcher ask you questions. While the dispatcher interviews you, he or
she will enter the data on a computer. The information you give will be relayed to a
response team. Answer in short, specific replies, giving only the requested information.
The dispatcher will probably ask:
- "What is your emergency?" You might answer, "A customer had sudden
chest pain and has now collapsed."
- "What's happening now?" "My friend is giving cardiopulmonary
resuscitation. We have an automated external defibrillator."
- "Where is the patient located?" "We are at the Perintis Dua Puluh
Dua Puluh, No 14 & 16, Jalan Nagasari 17,Segamat Baru, Segamat..."
- "What number are you calling from?" "The number is 943 5900."
At this point the dispatcher may give you directions such as "Stay on the line
until I tell you to hang up. Rescuers are being sent to your location. Please meet them
and direct them to the scene."
Remember, though, if you are alone, you must immediately begin performing CPR, the next
link in the chain. |
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Early CPR:
"Pump and Blow"
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Begin Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
(CPR).
CPR is the critical link that buys time between the first link (call 999) and the third
link (use the AED). The earlier you give CPR to a person in cardiac or respiratory arrest,
the greater their chance of survival. CPR keeps oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and
heart until defibrillation or other advanced care can restore normal heart action.
Dispatcher-Assisted CPR and Defibrillation and Enhanced 999.
In many areas of the country emergency dispatchers are taught how to help callers give
emergency care. With help from the dispatcher, callers can give CPR (and use an AED). The
instructions are basic and simple, but they will help the victim until EMS personnel
arrive. Remember, CPR needs to be started immediately!
Using a prepared list of instructions, the dispatcher can coach you through the basic
steps of CPR. At a worksite you will usually have help.
Use this approach:
- Repeat the dispatcher's instructions loudly to the other rescuers and confirm that
they are following that step.
- If the patient vomits or other complications arise, tell the dispatcher. Do not
expect that you will perform perfectly in such a crisis.
- Be sure that rescuers follow each instruction, even if it takes extra seconds.
- Ensure rescuer safety at all times.
- When EMS personnel arrive at the victim's side, the dispatcher will tell you that he
or she is hanging up.
- You hang up last.
Find Out if Your Community Has Enhanced 999/991.
In enhanced 999/991 a computer automatically confirms the caller's address. Also ask if
your 999/991 dispatchers are trained to offer prearrival instructions to rescuers. This
means that they can give instructions for immediate care based on the clinical criteria of
the emergency. If not, become a vocal advocate for such services in your community.
Enhanced 999/991 can save precious seconds, minutes, and even lives. |
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Early Defibrillation: Use the AED!
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Use the Automated External
Defibrillator (AED) to Treat Ventricular Fibrillation.
Most sudden cardiac arrest victims are in ventricular fibrillation (VF). VF is an
abnormal, chaotic heart rhythm that prevents the heart from pumping blood. VF causes more
cardiac arrests than any other rhythm (about 80% to 90% of cases). You must defibrillate a
victim immediately to stop VF and allow a normal heart rhythm to resume. The sooner you
provide defibrillation with the AED, the better the victim's chances of survival. If you
provide defibrillation within the first 5 minutes of a cardiac arrest, the odds are about
50% that you can save the victim's life. But with each passing minute during a cardiac
arrest, the chance of successful resuscitation is reduced by 7% to 10%. After 10 minutes
there is very little chance of successful rescue.
Public Access Defibrillation.
The AHA promotes the most rapid possible defibrillation of victims of cardiac arrest. To
do this the AHA wants to place AEDs in the hands of trained, nontraditional rescuers.
These include police, security guards, and family members of patients at high risk for
cardiac arrest. Public access defibrillation (PAD) programs place AEDs in homes, police
cars, worksites, and public gathering places, under the supervision of licensed
physicians. PAD rescuers must be trained in CPR and the use of an AED. When AEDs are
readily available, rescuers can provide defibrillation within the first few minutes of
out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This dramatically increases the victim's chances of
survival.
Public access defibrillation programs and AED manufacturers should work with local EMS
systems. Program authorities or manufacturers should notify EMS directors of AEDs placed
in homes, businesses, or other public areas.
Heartsaver AED.
The AHA has developed the Heartsaver AED Course to support the public access
defibrillation movement and specific PAD programs. The course is designed to help you
learn how to give CPR and use an AED. These skills are essential in caring for the victim
of cardiac arrest. |
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Early Advanced Care
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Transfer to Advanced Care.
The fourth link in the Chain of Survival is advanced care. This link is provided by highly
trained EMS personnel called "paramedics." Paramedics give basic life
support and defibrillation as well as more advanced care. They can give cardiac drugs and
insert endotracheal breathing tubes. These advanced actions (1) help the heart in VF
respond to defibrillation or (2) maintain a normal rhythm after successful defibrillation. |
