What it means
It builds on basic life supportBAY-sik LIFE suh-PORTThe first emergency care for someone whose heart or breathing has stopped or is failing: CPR, AED use and relief of choking.Full entry and teaches a team to manage cardiac arrest, dangerous heart rhythms, heart attack and stroke. It covers reading the heart rhythm, defibrillation and pacing, airway management and emergency drugs such as epinephrineep-ih-NEF-rinA hormone and drug, also called adrenaline, that raises heart rate and blood pressure and opens the airways.Full entry and amiodaroneam-ee-OH-duh-roneA drug used to treat and prevent serious abnormal heart rhythms.Full entry . Many hospitals require it for nurses in critical care and emergency areas.
At a glance
| Also written | advanced cardiovascular life support |
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Related terms
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Emergency chest compressions, with or without rescue breaths, to keep blood flowing when the heart has stopped.
cardiac arrest
The sudden stop of the heart's pumping, so blood no longer reaches the brain and body.
chest compression
Pressing down hard and fast on the center of the chest to pump blood when the heart has stopped.
basic life support
The first emergency care for someone whose heart or breathing has stopped or is failing: CPR, AED use and relief of choking.