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Resuscitation
The tradition of bringing people back to life
Now that I know what I’m without
You can’t just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life— Amy Lee
Before we lose a life in the hospital, clinicians must fight.
Suppose an expectant lady presents to the maternity ward with weak fetal heartbeats. We begin something known as intra-uterine fluid resuscitation, where the mother is given IV fluids, with the hope that it gets to the foetus.
Let’s say you have bled significantly regardless of the source of the injury. We replace the blood by giving blood or fluids that would remain in the vessels rather than freely distribute to other tissues. This process is known as resuscitation.
The most violent one is when your heart rate stops, which calls for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It begins with the first ‘S’ — someone “shouts” for help. The second ‘S’ is safety. You must glove up and ensure you have a mask and, if possible, a sterile gown. Roles are quickly assigned. The most recent sequence of events preceding the cardiac event is quickly relayed, and interventions begin.
