Question

A 9-year-old child suddenly collapses in the hallway of a hospital. A nurse finds the child and determines that the child in cardiac arrest and begins CPR. The nurse activates the emergency response team, and 2 nurses arrive.

Two rescuers begin high-quality CPR while the third rescuer leaves to get the AED. What action supports 2-rescuer CPR?

Answer 1

In cases of cardiac arrest, like that of a 9-year-old child in a hospital hallway, the immediate start of high-quality CPR and retrieval of an AED are critical actions. Good CPR technique involves chest compressions at a depth of 5 cm and a rate of 100 per minute, while AEDs assist with the automatic diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm abnormalities.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a 9-year-old child collapses and is found to be in cardiac arrest, it is crucial for the response team to begin high-quality CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) immediately. The proper technique for CPR involves applying pressure to the sternum, compressing the chest at least 5 cm deep and at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. This rhythm matches the beat of the song “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees, which can help rescuers to maintain the correct pace. Meanwhile, it is also important for someone to retrieve an AED (automated external defibrillator) as quickly as possible. AEDs automatically diagnose the heart's rhythm and can apply a shock with the appropriate energy and waveform to potentially correct arrhythmias like ventricular fibrillation. Deployment of an AED, along with ongoing high-quality CPR, provides the best chance for recovery until the heart resumes beating or advanced care arrives.