PADI RTO First Aid Student Manual

What is the name of the blood vessels that take blood to the heart? As the blood flows out of the capillaries on their way back to the heart the network forms larger vessels called veins. Veins return blood to the heart. When a vein is cut the blood flows from the wound steadily without rhythmic spurts. Typically, the blood from veins is dark red because it is oxygen poor. What is the name of the artery in the neck and wrist? Several arteries in the human body are important for Emergency Responders to know about. The carotid artery on each side of the neck is very close to the skin and typically easy to locate; it is a powerful artery since it is close to the heart, taking oxygen-rich blood to the brain. The radial artery near the wrist may be used to feel for a pulse. However, as you’ll learn, a casualty may not have a detectable carotid or radial artery pulse, but may still have a heartbeat. Feeling for a pulse may not be the best way to determine if a casualty has a heartbeat. During Skills Development you’ll learn the technique of quickly scanning the patient for responsiveness and normal breathing. Where are the artery pressure points on the leg and arm used to control severe bleeding? The two main pressure points can be found in the arms (this is the brachial artery) and the legs (this is the femoral artery). What arteries supply blood to the heart muscle? Coronary arteries supply blood directly to the heart. Heart attacks and cardiac arrest are two major problems. What is the basic electrical activity associated with normal and abnormal heart rhythm? A normal heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. However, a heart may beat excessively fast (tachycardia or tachyarrhythmia) or excessively slow (bradycardia or bradyarrhythmia), or in a regular or an irregular pattern (commonly called atrial fibrillation). Both fast and slow abnormalities of the heart rhythm may lead to cardiac arrest. What is the general treatment for excessively fast, excessively slow heart beat or an irregular pattern? Fast rhythms of the heart may respond to synchronised electrical therapy (cardioversion) to reset the normal activity of the heart. They may also respond to drug therapy. Slow rhythms of the heart may be treated with drugs to increase the heart rate such as atropine (anti- cholinergic) or adrenergic agents. Unsynchronised electrical therapy (defibrillation) is the mainstay of treatment of fast rhythms of the heart when the casualty is in cardiac arrest. Methods for cleaning, replenishing, recharging and maintaining resuscitation equipment What is important to consider when cleaning masks and other oxygen equipment? It is important that you always follow manufacturer instructions for cleaning emergency oxygen equipment. To disinfect equipment you should rinse it in two solutions: in a disinfecting solution (1:100 bleach-to-water) and then in clean or sterile water. Remember however that some components cannot be immersed in any solution. What is important to consider in regards to replenishing, recharging and maintaining resuscitation equipment? Many items are disposable, e.g. simple masks, pocket masks & tubing. Therefore you should replace any disposable items prior to storage of the oxygen equipment and any empty oxygen cylinders should be returned for filling without delay.

HLTAID007 - PROVIDE ADVANCED RESUSCITATION

HLTAID007 - PROVIDE ADVANCED RESUSCITATION

Troubleshooting to identify minor and major faults What are possible faults and solutions when using oxygen units? Possible faults may include: no oxygen coming from the unit – check that the valve is turned on and check the cylinder has oxygen in it; is it possible you briefly opened the valve before putting the regulator on? You may also find some oxygen is leaking from the valve connection so you need to check if the bodok seal (washer) was in place – check if the regulator is tightened onto the cylinder. Or you may find that the casualty refuses to use the demand inhalator system – you can use an alternative mask type, e.g. a non-rebreather mask. There is also a possibility that the regulator malfunctions – in this case you should replace the regulator, mark the regulator as faulty and have the faulty one serviced before next being put back into use. You may also find that the cylinder valve will not turn on – you then need to replace the cylinder and mark it as faulty (don’t just mark as empty, otherwise the valve problem will not be fixed). What are possible faults and solutions when using suction devices? You may find there is no sterile catheter – you then need to get another catheter, if available. The unit also may not be sucking – you then check that you are using the catheter correctly, e.g. is your thumb over the control hole on the catheter? Or there may be tubing missing from the oxygen system – with an oxygen powered unit you then need to get some tubing from spare oxygen masks. You may also find that the unit won’t turn on – in this case you should check your power supply, check it is plugged in, check the gas cylinder is turned on, that there is gas in the cylinder. There may also be no suction – check that there are no holes in the suction tubing, replace tubing or cover the holes. Or you may find that there are missing parts – so you must find the missing parts or get another suction device.

VII-11

VII-10

PADI RTO

PADI RTO