Infants are 0-12 months, children are from 1-12 years, and adults are more than 12 years old Cardiac Chain of Survival

1. Early recognition of the emergency and early access to emergency medical services

2. Early CPR

3. Early defibrillation

4. Early advanced medical care

Aed (automated external defibrillator)

An AED is a machine that analyzes the heart’s rhythm and if necessary, tells you to deliver a shock, called defibrillation, to a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.

When the Heart Stops: The two most common abnormal rhythms in sudden cardiac arrest victims are Ventricular Fibrillation (V-fib) and Ventricular Tachycardia (V-tach). V-fib is a state of totally disorganized electrical activity in the heart. V-tach is very rapid contraction of the ventricles. With V- fib and V-tach there is no movement or breathing and no pulse. In many cases, V-fib and V-tach can be corrected by early defibrillation. AED disturbs the electrical activity of V-fib and V-tach. Asystole cannot be corrected by defibrillation.

If you are using AED to children between 1-8 years of age or less than 55 pounds you will use pediatric pads.

Using an AED: Once you have sized up the scene, conducted an initial assessment, summoned EMS personnel and determined there is no movement, breathing or pulse, the general steps for using AED are:

1. Turn on the AED

2. Wipe the victim’s chest dry

3. Attach the pads

4. Plug the connector into the AED, if necessary

5. Make sure no one, including you, is touching the victim.

6. Push the “analyze” button, if necessary

7. If a shock is advised, push the “shock” button

If there is movement, breathing and a pulse - place the victim in recovery position recovery position

To place victim in recovery position, the lifeguard should :kneel at the victim’s side, take the victim’s arm farthest away and move it up next to the victim’s head and take the victim’s other arm and cross it over the chest .Grasp the closest leg and bend it up. Hold the victim’s shoulder and hip and gently roll the victim’s body away from the lifeguard, keeping the head , neck and back in a straight line. Carefully angle the victim’s head toward the ground. Monitor victim’s ABCs. Roll the opposite side every 30 minutes or if victim’s skin becomes pale, ashen or cool to the touch.

Modified H.A.IN.E.S. Recovery position

If a head, neck or back injury is suspected, the lifeguard should move the victim to modified recovery position: kneel at the victim’s side, reach across the victim’s body and lift the far arm up next to the victim’s head with the victim’s palm facing up. Then take the victim’s nearest arm and place it next to the victim’s side. Grasp the victim’s leg furthest away and bend it up. Carefully slide a forearm under the victim’s near shoulder. Do not lift and push victim head and neck. Place victim’s other hand under the victim’s closest arm and hip. With smooth motion roll the victim away. Bend the victim’s closest knee and place it on top of the victim’s other knee. Make sure the victim’s arm on top is in line with the upper body.