BASIC LIFE SUPPORT

Dr.D.Lakshman Rao ACMS

Divisional Railway Hospital , VSKP
India
We continue to grow in number
We need to grow in Pre-hospital care as
well
Road accidents are major killer worldwide
Train accidents can lead to mass casualties
Accidents happened in all eras
Deaths due to various conditions

Condition Males(%) Females(%)

• Heart disease 52.8 46.5

• Accidents 12.5 10.0
• Cancer 8.3 10.8
• Infectious disease 5.9 6.3
• Lung disease 5.7 7.0
• Others 6.5 7.9
• Unaccounted 8.3 11.5
______________________________________
Source: Health Action for People: Field Studies
 Impact of injury
Trauma kills youth

Trauma strikes down the youngest and

potentially the most productive members of
the society.
 Pre-hospital care

Care at the site of injury - Basic Life Support (BLS)

Quick transport - Continue BLS /ALS

Hospital care - Advance Life Support (ALS)

 BASIC LIFE SUPPORT
Multiple casualties – when number of casualties
do not exceed the capabilities of available
resources.

Mass casualties – when number of casualties

exceed the capability of available resources.
 Triage
(Mean priority )
• Priorities are established.
• Patients are attended based on their needs.

AIM: Maximum utilization of limited resources.

 Colored Triage

• Red First priority

• Yellow Less critical patients – Second priority
• Green Stable patients
• Blue Expectant
• Black Dead
Colored Triage
 Basic Life Support

• Provided at the site of injury.

• Does not require expertise or resources.

Care provider – anybody who attends the victim.

(The First Responder)

 Basic Life Support

 Airway maintenance - by simple postural

adjustments.

 Cervical spine protection - by immobilizing the neck.

 Control of external hemorrhage - by compression.

 Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
 Advance Life Support

• Provided by doctors or trained paramedical personnel.

• Involves expertise, equipment and resource.
• It is provided in a hospital or in a well equipped
ambulance.
 Principle

Treat the greatest threat to

life first.
 Assessment of Airway

First try to talk to the

victim.
 Airway compromise
Signs of Airway Obstruction:

• Noisy Breathing
• Agitation - suggests hypoxia
• Obtundation - suggests hypercarbia
• Altered consciousness
• Maxillofacial injuries
• Cyanosis - indicates hypoxemia
Thoracic trauma may cause severe airway
and breathing problems
Blast injuries can also cause airway
problems
Facial injuries and bleeding from
mouth or nose
 MANAGEMENT OF OBSTRUCTED AIRWAY

Chin Lift and Head Tilt

Jaw Thrust
Finger Sweeping
Recovery Position
CHIN LIFT AND HEAD TILT
Management of Airway
JAW THRUST
Recovery Position
 ALS
Oro and Naso
Pharyngeal Airways
ALS: Definitive Airway
 PROTECTION OF CERVICAL SPINE

CERVICAL SPINE PROTECTION MUST BE ENSURED AT

EVERY STEP

Head and neck to be kept in neutral position

with in-line immobilisation using manual
assistance, cervical collar and blocks.
CERVICAL SPINE PROTECTION
CERVICAL SPINE PROTECTION
CERVICAL SPINE PROTECTION
COMPLETE SPINE PROTECTION
Cervical Spine Protection (BLS)
C- Spine Protection System for
Motorcyclists
Mindset
 CARDIO-PULMONARY
RESUSCITATION(CPR)

AIM: To provide some oxygenated blood to the

brain while the patient is pulse less.

COMPONENTS:
Ventilation (Expired air ventilation)
External chest compressions
RATIO:
2 Ventilations
30 Chest compressions @ 100/minute
 ASSISTED
VENTILATION
CHEST COMPRESSIONS
Killer CPR
Learn it Early
 CIRCULATORY MANAGEMENT

Control Hemorrhage –
By external compression.
Elevation of part above
heart level.
Avoid using tourniquet.

Restore Volume (ALS)

Equal Access for All
A thoughtful gesture saved the life of this
old man.
Pulling out the iron rod might have killed
him.
Proper pre-hospital care and prompt
surgical treatment saved his life.
Another fortunate surviver
Two iron rods pierced his body
Prompt care saved his life
Don’t do this
SMART IS PROTECTED
Fate is unpredictable
Thank You