What is the Chain Of Survival?
The previous page of this course covered D.R.A.B.C.D Break it down:
D=Danger
R=Response
A=Airways
B= Breathing
C=Circulation
D= Defibrillation
All of the above create a link in the chain of survival for a person who becomes a casualty and stops breathing. Your job as a first aider is to have the understanding to link the chain of survival.
-1st Link-
-ASSESSMENT-
Open airways
Casualty is NOT!
Breathing
TIME LINE
0-30 Seconds
-2nd Link-Start-
-Early CPR-
Send your help now to call 999
You must start CPR “NOW”
30 Compression’s followed with 2 Breaths
Keep Performing CPR
DO NOT STOP!
TIME LINE
30 Seconds – 10 Minutes
-3rd Link-
EARLY AED
Remind Helper to Get
AED after calling
Ambulance
ON YOUR OWN?
if it takes you 3-5 minutes
to get the AED yourself
forget about it.
Keep CPR going, and don’t stop.
TIME LINE
2 Minutes -10 Minutes
4th Link-Early
Primary Care
Continue CPR until an ambulance has arrived, even when the AED has not been used or has failed to work.
The 10-minute rule is connected very closely with the chain of survival; with every minute that passes, the casualty loses 10% of the chance of full recovery. Take away one of the links, i.e. CPR, and the casualty will rapidly deteriorate and die.
IMPORTANT!
What happens next depends on your assessment findings.
The next page will will help you manage a casualty who unconscious and breathing.