Advanced cardiac life support
Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) is a detailed medical protocol for the provision of lifesaving cardiac care in settings ranging from the pre-hospital environment to the hospital setting.ACLS is the appropriate medical response to cardiac arrest and is continued until the person is revived or is declared dead by competent medical authority. The standards for ACLS in the United States are administered by the American Heart Association.
ACLS consists of the provision (either in the pre-hospital setting, in the emergency room, or elsewhere in the hospital) of advanced cardiac drugs, manual defibrillation and intubation. ACLS may be provided by paramedics or appropriately trained nurses. A doctor trained in emergency medicine or a cardiologist can provide additional cardiac drugs and surgical intervention including cardiac massage.
CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation is part of Basic Life Support. CPR provided by laypersons buys time for higher medical responders such as paramedics to arrive and begin providing ACLS. For this reason it is essential that any person starting CPR also activate the emergency medical services by calling for help using the emergency telephone number.
Semi-automatic defibrillation, oxygen and airway support may be provided by emergency medical technicians. This is also considered Basic Life Support.
See also: life support, medicine, heart, EMT, paramedic
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