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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chain of survival | 2/2 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_of_survival | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T07:27:01.490920+00:00 | kb-cron |
== Early advanced care == Early advanced cardiac life support by paramedics is another critical link in the chain of survival. In communities with survival rates > 20%, a minimum of two of the rescuers are trained to the advanced level. Some ACLS ambulance providers will administer medications to manage pain, arrhythmias, shock, and pulmonary congestion; monitor the heart rhythm to identify any potentially lethal cardiac arrhythmias; or initiate transcutaneous pacing. ACLS ambulance providers use the mnemonic "MONA" (morphine, oxygen, nitroglycerin, and aspirin) to reflect the out-of-hospital therapies they will use for cardiac arrest. Often, ACLS ambulance providers will attach an electrocardiogram to the patient and transmit its findings to the receiving hospital or care facility, which leads to earlier diagnosis of a heart attack, and significantly reduces time to treatment at the hospital. This prearrival ECG and notification has been shown to improve patient outcomes. In the event of a complication at the scene of the event or on the way to the hospital, ACLS ambulance providers can administer life saving therapies, including CPR, rapid defibrillation, airway management, and intravenous medications.
== Recovery == In October 2020, the American Heart Association added the recovery phase as the sixth link in the chain of survival. Recovery consists of cardiac arrest survivors receiving treatment, surveillance, and rehabilitation at a hospital. It also includes an assessment for anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress, which can all lead to future repeated events. Before being discharged from the hospital, the American Heart Association recommends that cardiac arrest survivors receive rehabilitation assessment and treatment for physical, neurologic, cardiopulmonary, and cognitive impairments. They also recommend that cardiac arrest survivors and their caregivers receive comprehensive, multidisciplinary discharge planning to include medical and rehabilitative treatment recommendations and return to activity and work expectations. A patient's recovery from cardiac arrest continues long after their initial hospitalization following the event, so the American Heart Association recommended in their 2020 guidelines that patients have formal assessment and support for their physical, cognitive, and psychosocial needs.
== See also == Basic life support Cardiac arrest Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation Defibrillation Call-Push-Shock Rearrest
== References ==
== External links == "The Links in the Chain of Survival," American Heart Association "Chain of Survival: Converting a Nation," Citizen CPR Foundation