Abstract
The chapter is essential for the dental chairside assistant. It details the first
step that needs to be provided to the victim of a life-threatening injury,
cardiopulmonary arrest, or sudden cessation of breathing. It deals with basic medical
skills, and if implemented, these can enable saving a life. The basic life support
provider needs practical training, which needs to be further updated at regular intervals.
The details of various algorithms, chances of survival, sequence of action, airway
obstruction in children, method of defibrillator use and cardiopulmonary resuscitation
are also explained in detail.
Keywords: Compression, Defibrillation, Heimlich’s maneuver, Resuscitation, Rescue breathing, Unresponsive, Unconscious.