Do not attempt resuscitation order Health Dictionary

See APPENDIX 1: BASIC FIRST AID. See also DNR.... resuscitation

The administration of life-saving measures to a person who has suffered a cardiac arrest. A person in cardiac arrest is not breathing and has no detectable pulse or heartbeat. First, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (see artificial respiration) is given; if this fails to restart breathing, repeated chest compressions, using the heel of

the hand, are applied to the lower breastbone until trained help arrives.

Both these measures are used to restore blood circulation to the brain.

Brain damage is likely if the brain is starved of oxygen for more than 3–4 minutes.... cardiopulmonary resuscitation

See artificial respiration.... mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

A combination of mouth to mouth resuscitation (E.A.R.) to oxygenate the blood, and external chest compression (E.C.C.) to compress the heart to help pump this artificially oxygenated blood around the body to maintain tissue oxygen concentration and prevent death.... cardio-pulmonary resuscitation

The use of life-saving measures of mouth-tomouth resuscitation and external cardiac compression massage in a person who has collapsed with CARDIAC ARREST. Speedy restoration of the circulation of oxygenated blood to the brain is essential to prevent damage to brain tissues from oxygen starvation. The brain is irreversibly damaged if it is starved of oxygen for more than 4–5 minutes. Someone whose heart has stopped will be very pale or blue-grey (in particular, round the lips) and unresponsive; he or she will not be breathing and will have no pulse. It is important to determine that the collapsed person has not simply fainted before starting CPR. The procedure is described under car-diac/respiratory arrest in APPENDIX 1: BASIC FIRST AID. In hospital, or when paramedical sta? are attending an emergency, CPR may include the use of a DEFIBRILLATOR to apply a controlled electric shock to the heart via the chest wall.... cardiopulmonary resuscitation (cpr)

An advance directive based on the premise that a person may prefer to die than live when the quality of life available after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is likely to be worse than before. In such circumstances, a patient has the right not to be resuscitated and to be allowed to die.... do not resuscitate order

The use of expired (used) air blown from a rescuer into the airway and lungs of an unconscious victim who is not breathing, sufficient to sustain his life.... expired air resuscitation

The taxonomic term for a group, above Genus, but below Class. See Taxonomy.... order

see Mental Health Act.... community treatment order

Do Not Attempt Resuscitation order: an instruction, usually made by a patient while he or she has capacity and recorded in their notes, requesting that doctors desist from performing resuscitation in the event of physiological failure. By respecting a patient’s choice with regard to resuscitation, a doctor is respecting that patient’s *autonomy. If resuscitation is considered *futile, a decision not to attempt it may be taken; ideally, this should be communicated to the patient and the reasons explained sensitively.... dnar order

the supervisory body of *advanced life-support courses in Europe, responsible for updating the content of the courses based on best evidence from all countries represented.... european resuscitation council

see section 30 order.... parental order

(in England) a legal order made by a magistrate on application by the local authority, in accordance with The Health Protection (Part 2A Orders) Regulations 2010, to exercise powers over a person, place, or thing that presents a risk to public health for a period of up to 28 days. Typically, fewer than ten such orders are issued annually. They may be used, for example, to detain an individual with infectious drug-resistant tuberculosis against their will in a setting with appropriate infection-control measures, or to seize equipment used by unregistered tattooists with poor infection-control practices.... part 2a order

a compressible and easily carried mask, which can be expanded and fitted over the mouth and nose of a nonbreathing patient in order to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation through a small valve without contact between the mouth of the rescuer and that of the patient.... pocket resuscitation mask

a life-size model of a person for practising all aspects of basic and advanced life support, including endotracheal *intubation and *defibrillation.... resuscitation mannikin

(parental order) a court order made under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 that enables a married couple to be regarded as the legal parents of a child born to a *surrogate mother commissioned by that couple. Application must be made within six months of the child’s birth and the child’s home must be with the husband and wife at the time of the application.... section 30 order