Which formula is used in BLS for life-saving of the victim?

SGPGI Nursing Officer-2024

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: SGPGI Nursing Officer-2024

Explanation

The current American Heart Association (AHA) guideline for Basic Life Support (BLS) is the C-A-B sequence.
C-A-B stands for Compressions, Airway, Breathing.
This approach prioritizes initiating chest compressions immediately to restore blood circulation to the brain and heart, which is the most critical action in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest.
Delaying chest compressions to open the airway and provide breaths has been shown to decrease survival rates.

Option A: A-B-C (Airway, Breathing, Compressions) is the outdated BLS sequence.
Option B: A-C-B (Airway, Compressions, Breathing) is not a recognized or standard sequence in any resuscitation protocol.
Option C: B-A-C (Breathing, Airway, Compressions) is not a recognized or standard sequence in any resuscitation protocol.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain The correct sequence of actions in Basic Life Support (BLS) for a victim of cardiac arrest as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The immediate initiation of high-quality chest compressions (the 'C' in C-A-B) is the single most important determinant of survival and positive neurological outcome after a cardiac arrest.
Nurses must be proficient in the C-A-B sequence as they are often the first responders to in-hospital cardiac arrests (Code Blue). Rapid and correct application of BLS can significantly improve patient outcomes.
What if? If a nurse witnesses a patient collapse and the cause is clearly respiratory (e.g., choking on food), the priority might shift. The nurse would first attempt to clear the airway (Heimlich maneuver) before starting the C-A-B sequence if the patient becomes unresponsive. This highlights the importance of clinical judgment even within a protocol.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is asking for the standard procedure or 'formula' for Basic Life Support (BLS).
Recall the current, evidence-based guidelines for resuscitation. The American Heart Association (AHA) is the primary source for these guidelines.
Remember the significant change in BLS protocol from A-B-C to C-A-B that occurred in 2010.
Understand the rationale for this change: to prioritize chest compressions and minimize any delay in restoring blood flow to the brain and heart.
Evaluate the given options based on this knowledge. 'CAB' directly corresponds to the current guideline (Compressions, Airway, Breathing).
Eliminate the other options: 'ABC' is the old protocol, and 'ACB' and 'BAC' are incorrect and illogical sequences.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: The correct sequence of actions in Basic Life Support (BLS) for a victim of cardiac arrest.
Stem keywords: BLS, life-saving, formula, victim
Lead-in keywords: Which formula

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