Basic Life Support (BLS) for Junior Doctors

 Basic Life Support (BLS) for Junior Doctors

collected and written by: Mohamed Hassan

As a junior doctor, you may be called upon to provide Basic Life Support (BLS) to a patient who is in cardiac arrest. BLS is a lifesaving technique that can double or triple the chances of survival for someone who has experienced a cardiac arrest.

The 2021 BLS guidelines recommend that bystanders start chest compressions as soon as possible after a cardiac arrest is suspected. Chest compressions should be performed at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute, and the depth of compressions should be at least 5 cm but not more than 6 cm. Rescue breaths should be given after every 30 chest compressions, but only if the rescuer is trained and comfortable doing so. If an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is available, it should be used as soon as possible.

Here is a step-by-step guide to BLS:

  1. Check the patient's responsiveness by calling their name and shaking them gently.
  2. If the patient is not responsive, shout for help and call 999 or the local emergency number.
  3. Place the patient on their back on a firm surface.
  4. Kneel next to the patient's chest and place the heel of your hand in the centre of their chest, just below the nipples.
  5. Place your other hand on top of the first hand and interlock your fingers.
  6. Lock your elbows and straighten your arms, keeping your shoulders directly above your hands.
  7. Press down on the patient's chest with a smooth, steady rhythm, compressing their chest by 5-6 cm each time.
  8. Continue chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute until help arrives.
  9. If you are trained in rescue breaths, give two rescue breaths after every 30 chest compressions.
  10. If an AED is available, use it as soon as possible.

It is important to remember that BLS is a lifesaving technique, but it is not a substitute for medical attention. If you are providing BLS to a patient, stay with them until help arrives.

Links for the topic :

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to get the most out of the internship year !

Image
   أشهر كلمة بنسمعها من أطباء الامتياز عموما  "احنا ما بنتعلمش حاجة فى امتياز والنواب مابيعلموش حد حاجة " الصراحة ،،،، الكلام دا جزء كبير منه صحيح جدا و لكن ... ايه الحل ؟ الحل بسيط جدا أولا   انت هتروح فى الأول تتفرج و تراقب و تلاحظ فقط just observe ثانيا هتروح تقرا الموضوع اللى انت شفته سواء فى العيادة الخارجية أو فى المرور فى القسم أو فى غرفة العمليات مثلا سواء كان اسم علاج أو اسم عملية جراحية أو أى إجراء طبى ما .... ثالثا  ذاكر كويس الHistory taking &examination و مر على الحالات قبل النائب و خد history كويس من الحالات و اعمل examination كويس للحالات و اقرا ال diagnosis المكتوب على التذكرة أو ملف الحالة من فوق اطبع ملف صغير جدا او فى ورقة أو اتنين موضوعات History taking and clinical examination بحيث ما تنساش لحد ما تتعود انه تستخدمهم من الذاكرة رابعا  هات معاك و انت فى المرور (و قبل المرور ) داخل القسم drug index وكتاب therapeutics كويس و تعال قبل النايب (الطبيب المقيم بالقسم ) و مر على الحالات و التذاكر و افعل ايه الأدوية المكتوبة كويس للحالات و ايه indication و ال co
Read more

Skills you need to learn as an inten doctor ! part 2

Image
    : قائمة بالموضوعات اللى المفروض تسعى بشكل جدى كطبيب امتياز أو كطبيب ممارس عام أنك تتعلمها فى سنة امتياز طب Skills you need to learn as an inten doctor part 2 الجزء الثانى    1-      Learn to give injections intravenously, intramuscularly and SC and ID 2-      Learn to draw and interpret blood samples from veins and arteries. 3-      How to draw different blood samples (as you may be asked in different settings to perform them instead of the nursing staff ) 4-      Learn to insert the intravenous line known as the cannula. (And to differentiate between different sizes and colors) in adults and children. 5-      Learn to insert the central line in the veins of the neck (or at least observe how it is done by another senior doctor) 6-      Learn how to perform blood type and rhesus. 7-      Learn to read x-rays of all kinds, as well as Ultrasound images.   8-      Learn to listen to the chest, heart, and stomach. 9-      Learn to examine the patient's entire body
Read more

Dr. Ashraf Zaki's ECG Lectures

Image
   Dr. Ashraf Zaki's ECG Lectures Collected by Mohamed Hassan  Disclaimer You have to check the up-to-date information about the topic  also, review the local legal regulations  Dr. Ashraf Zaki is a renowned physician and lecturer who has been providing valuable insights into the field of internal medicine for years. One of his most popular lecture series is on electrocardiograms (ECG), which is a diagnostic tool used to measure the electrical activity of the heart. In this blog post, we will explore Dr. Ashraf Zaki's ECG lectures and why they are worth watching. 1. Comprehensive Coverage Dr. Ashraf Zaki's ECG lectures cover a wide range of topics related to ECGs. He starts with the basics and gradually moves on to more advanced concepts. His lectures cover everything from heart anatomy and physiology to the interpretation of ECG waveforms. This makes his lectures ideal for both beginners and advanced learners. 2. Practical Approach Dr. Ashraf Zaki's ECG lectures are no
Read more