Section 2: Crisis Management

Basic Life Support
in Adults - DRSABCD

DRSABCD - DEFIBRILLATION

  • A defibrillator is safe to use during COVID-19
  • CPR alone will not restart the heart
  • Effective CPR plus early defibrillation using an automated external defibrillator (AED) is the only treatment for cardiac arrest
  • They are simple to use, you switch the machine on and listen to the prompts
  • Survival rates are as high as 75% if you can use an AED within 3 minutes
  • Check if your team or local authority has an AED and familiarise yourself with it-you never know when you may have to use it.

Do not be afraid-the defibrillator will tell you what to do and will not deliver a shock if not required.

hsc - NSFA - defibrillator