Wilderness and Rescue Medicine 8th Edition

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Wilderness and Rescue Medicine

Chapter 7 Review: Basic and Advanced Life Support

• Basic life support (BLS) is the immediate treatment of life-threatening critical system problems dis- covered during the primary assessment. BLS includes airway control, ventilation as needed, bleeding control, CPR as needed, spine protection, and protection from extreme heat or cold. • BLS can also include the use of injectable epinephrine and a defibrillator, if available. • Advanced life support (ALS) techniques use additional medications, advanced airways, and some surgical techniques. ALS should be accessed when such procedures would be a benefit to the patient and the rescue effort. • The goals of BLS and ALS are the same: to preserve oxygenation and perfusion. • Respiratory failure is evidenced by an altered level of consciousness and inadequate or difficult breathing. Your immediate response is to ensure a patent airway, begin positive pressure ventilation (PPV), and add supplemental oxygen if you have it. • Chest compressions are used to temporarily support perfusion when the heart has stopped function- ing. If functional cardiac activity is not restored within a few minutes, the patient will not survive. Early access to an AED and hospital is ideal. • Bleeding from an artery is the most immediately life-threatening of bleeding types and can usually be controlled by well-aimed direct pressure or a tourniquet. • Abnormal brain function indicated by reduced level of consciousness or mental status changes can be caused by direct trauma to the nervous system, loss of brain oxygenation due to circulatory or respiratory system problems, or other causes outlined by the STOPEATS mnemonic.

The risks are often extreme...