Emergency & Acute Care Medicine

Resuscitation

Resuscitation refers to the process of reviving a person who has experienced a sudden cardiac arrest or cessation of breathing. The goal of resuscitation is to restore oxygenated blood circulation to the body's vital organs, particularly the brain, in order to prevent irreversible damage and increase the chances of survival. The most common techniques used in resuscitation include:

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): CPR is a lifesaving technique that involves chest compressions and rescue breaths. Chest compressions help circulate oxygenated blood throughout the body when the heart has stopped beating. Rescue breaths provide the person with additional oxygen.


• Automated External Defibrillator (AED): An AED is a portable device that can analyze a person's heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock, if needed, to restore a normal heartbeat. AEDs are commonly found in public places and are designed for use by bystanders.


• Advanced Life Support (ALS): For more severe cases, advanced medical professionals such as paramedics and doctors may administer medications, provide advanced airway management, and employ other techniques to support the person's vital functions.


• Basic Life Support (BLS): Bystanders or first responders may perform basic life support techniques like CPR and using an AED until advanced medical help arrives.


• Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation: This technique involves providing rescue breaths directly into the person's mouth to inflate their lungs when they are not breathing.