This term includes all the elements of resuscitation without any equipment, made by a person or by persons who first-aids a CRA victim.
These elements include primary evaluation, insuring the clearance of the respiratory tract, artificial ventilation with expired air and external cardiac masage.
The purpose of the basic vital support is the maintaining of an adequate circulation and ventilation, not allowing the occurance of byological death until the qualified mnedical unit arrives. In other words, the basic CPR is a package of manoeuvres which attempt to maintain the irrigation and the oxygenation of the vital organs (brain, heart). Sometimes, this can take a long time, depending on the reasons responsible for the CRA. Any delay reduces the victim's chances of survival. That's why t\the action must be taken fast and according to the protocol.
1.3.1. Primary evaluation:
Resquer's safety: The resquer evaluates the general situation making sure of the lack of any danger. Make sure that neither the victim nor you are not in any danger. The major risks for the resquer can be: intense traffic, electricity, unstable structures in or under which the victim is located, toxic substances, gas, contagious diseases which require a special protection during the performance of artificial respiration.
Consciousness level: The victim's state is evaluated: is the victim conscious or not? We gently shake the victim by the shoulder and ask him: “Are you all right? What happened?” or we try to determin him to follow instructions such as: “Open your eyes!”
If the victim answers or moves, so if the victim is conscious, we leave him in the position we found him (make sure again there is no danger) and we try to identify the reason for which the victim is in that position. We ask for qualified assistance by calling 961. The victim's state is to be reevaluated from time to time until the arrival of the medical unit.
If the victim doesn't answer, therefore the victim is unconscious:
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1.3.2. The ABC of resuscitation:
Follow the steps of action in evaluating the vital functions:
- A. Airway. – Clearing the airway. By maintainig open and clear the airway the air circulation between the organism and the environment can take place.
- B. Breathing - The process through which the air reaches the lungs and the carbon dioxide is released.
- C. Circulation - The circulation of blood in the body.
A. Airway. – Clearing the airway
Clear the airway by pushing up the chin and by hyperextending the head, pushin the forehead.Place one of your hands on the patient's forehead (so that the thumb and the index are free in order to clip the nose while performing mouth-to-mouth respiration). In the same time with two fingers of your other hand raise the victims chin. In case of an unconscious victim it is possible for the tongue to fall backwards towards the posterior pharynx, blocking the airway.
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By hyperextending the head and by pulling up the chin, the tongue lifts and clears the airway. Clear the neck of any tight clothing. Clear any obvious cause of obstruction in the mouth. These may be: broken teeth, broken denture, saliva, blood, etc. Do not waste any time looking for hidden obstructions.
B. Breathing
Keeping the airway clear listen, feel and notice if the victim breathes regularly. Bend over the victim facing the chest and listen at the mouth level for the breathing noises; feel if there is any air exchange by putting your cheek close to the victim's mouth and nose, notice the movements of the chest.
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In order to decide wether there is breathing or not, LISTEN, FEEL and SEE for at least 5-10 seconds.
C. Circulation
The circulation is provided by the heart. The evaluation of the circulation is made by evaluation the heart rate. The pulse is best felt on the carotid artery which is situated between the throat muscles and Adam's Apple. The index and the middle finger can slide down along the throat muscles and feel the pulse with the fingertips. This step of evaluation can be made at the same time with the evaluation of breathing, also for 5-10 seconds.
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After evaluating a patient we can deal with one of the situations presented in the next chapter:
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