BLS Certification Manual: Recognizing Cardiac Arrest
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Recognizing Cardiac Arrest
- 3. Positioning & Pulse Check
- 4. Compressions for Adults
- 5. Compressions for Infants & Children
- 6. Ventilation Equipment
- 7. Ventilations for Adults
- 8. Ventilations for Infants & Children
- 9. AED Usage
- 10. AED Special Circumstances
- 11. Choking
- 12. Choking Procedures for Adults & Children
- 13. Choking Procedures for Infants
- 14. Team Roles
- 15. Effective Team Dynamics
- 16. Common Mistakes
- 17. Conclusion
- MyCPR Now™ Glossary
Recognizing Cardiac Arrest
Rapid recognition of cardiac arrest allows CPR and AED use to begin as quickly as possible.
A person in cardiac arrest is generally:
- Unresponsive
- Not breathing normally or only gasping
- Without a definite pulse when assessed by a trained responder
Check Responsiveness
Ensure the scene is safe before approaching. For an adult or child, tap the shoulders and speak loudly. For an infant, gently tap the foot and speak loudly. If there is no response, call for help.
Assess Breathing and Pulse
A trained BLS responder may check breathing and pulse at the same time. Do not spend more than 10 seconds checking. If the person is not breathing normally and you cannot definitely detect a pulse within 10 seconds, begin CPR.
Adult Pulse
For an adult, check the carotid pulse at the side of the neck.
Child Pulse
For a child, check the carotid or femoral pulse.
Infant Pulse
For an infant, check the brachial pulse on the inside of the upper arm or the femoral pulse.
Gasping
Occasional gasps are not normal breathing. Do not mistake agonal gasping for effective breathing.
Activate Emergency Response
Call 911 or activate the emergency response system promptly.
If other responders are present:
- Assign someone to call 911
- Assign someone to retrieve an AED and emergency equipment
- Begin appropriate care immediately