BLS in different age groups
By: Wardah Khan
Tags: Support, Health, Life, Healthcare, Medicine

Here is what you need to know about how basic life support varies and is performed in different age groups.

BASIC LIFE SUPPORT:

Basic life support or BLS refers to the type of aid given immediately to anyone suffering from cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest or any other life-threatening condition, BLS demands a sound knowledge as well as skills in cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), proper use of automated external defibrillator (AED), performing abdominal thrusts in case of choking and administering first aid, subsequently increasing the victim’s chances at survival and to make a sound recovery.

BASIC LIFE SUPPORT IN DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS:

Basic life support or BLS varies drastically in different age groups. One technique that you apply on adults might not work or be invalid, possibly harm the child or infant. The difference lies due to changes in their body structures, bone framework and density, and the major differences between their anatomy and physiologies.

BLS in infants:

Considering the AHA guidelines in BLS aka Chain of survival, the pediatric protocol is different than that followed for adults. The reason it is different because a young child or an infant is very less likely to suffer from a cardiac arrest like an adult does, most common situation that happens with children are the respiratory failure due to choking, foreign object obstructing the airway (food or toys lodged in throat) or shock. The steps to be followed are mentioned below:

The Pediatric Chain of Survival comprises of:

1. To avoid cardiac arrest

2. Prompt, high-quality CPR

3. Quickly activating ‘emergency response system’ (calling 911)

4. Adequate advance life support, post BLS

5. Meticulous Post-Cardiac Arrest Care

BLS in children:

The majority of the strategies used for the children aged one to eight years are equivalent to those suggested for adults. Mostly, a child’s bones are more adaptable and flexible, they will not break on the points on which adult bones might break, a child’s tongue is bigger than adult (a likely reason to cause airway obstruction since the trachea is relatively narrow) and as mentioned before, children are highly unlikely to witness a cardiac arrest, life-threatening situations chiefly occur due to airway obstruction. 90% of deaths from foreign material ingestion in kids happen in those who are less than 5 years old. [1] It has been vastly agreed among experts to instantly start CPR if you are the only one present in the room, then call for help. Provide rescue breathing and start chest compressions, and if you have access to AED, consider using the pediatric paddles if available.

BLS in adults:

While adults can experience vast variety of the ill effects of choking, blocked breathing routes, suffocating episodes, drowning and several other issues, adults need CPR when they go through cardiac arrest. [2] Here’s a review of the overall basic approaches you should consider while administering BLS to an adult:

· Activate emergency response system (call 911 before initiating CPR)

· Check if there is a pulse

· Provide the victim with rescue breaths

· Start chest compressions

· Use AED if available

Understanding the BLS courses, rehearsing these widely different strategies in all the age groups is a challenge, either by in person classes, hands-on workshops or preparing via virtual instructions, we feel that basic life support knowledge must be obtained by everyone, to save a life someday.

REFERENCES:

[1] https://www.aed.com/blog/what-are-the-differences-between-infant-child-and-adult-cpr/

[2] https://www.cprcertified.com/blog/what-are-the-differences-between-infant-child-and-adult-cpr

ECC Committee, Subcommittees and Task Forces of the American Heart Association. 2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2005;13; 112(24 Suppl): IV1–203.

Holmberg M, Holmberg S, Herlitz J, Gardelov B. Survival after cardiac arrest outside hospital in Sweden. Swedish Cardiac Arrest Registry. Resuscitation. 1998;36(1):29–36.

deCaen AR, Garcia Guerra G, Maconochie I. Intubation During Pediatric CPR: Early, Late, or Not at All? JAMA 2016; 316:1772.

American Heart Association. Web-based Integrated Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care — Part 11: Pediatric Basic Life Support and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Quality. ECCguidelines.heart.org

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