<P>The success of the first edition of <I>Advanced Cardiac Life SupportAlgorithms and Drugs for Adult and Pediatric Providers</I>, published in1993, confirmed the need for rapid reference information about emergencycardiovascular care. In 1997 the AHA published new textbooks for basic lifesupport and pediatric and adult advanced life support. These new textbookshave prompted this 1997 edition of the ECC handbook. This new edition retainsmuch of the material from the previous handbook. We have added the newestinformation about use of automated external defibrillators and managementof acute ischemic stroke, ischemic chest pain, pediatric tachycardia, andpediatric trauma. All algorithms, tables, figures, and drug recommendationsremain consistent with current ECC guidelines, based on the 1997 AHA textbooksand the recommendations of the 1992 National Conference on CardiopulmonaryResuscitation and Emergency Cardiac Care. We hope this material is a usefulreference for providers of emergency cardiovascular care. For cardiac arrest,you strive to prevent when possible, treat effectively when challenged,and support humanely when efforts fail. In honor of your efforts we dedicatethis book.</P>
<A NAME="anchor2"></A>
<P>Mary Fran Hazinski<BR>Richard O. Cummins<BR><I>Editors</I></P>
<A NAME="anchor3"></A>
<P><HR ALIGN=LEFT></P>
<A NAME="anchor4"></A>
<H3><FONT COLOR="#ffffff">Note on Medication Doses</FONT></H3><P>This handbook contains treatment recommendations from the 1992 NationalConference on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiac Care (<I>JAMA</I>.1992;268:2171-2302), from the <I>Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation</I>(1994), and from the following 1997 publications of the American Heart Association:<I>Basic Life Support Heartsaver Guide, Basic Life Support for HealthcareProviders, Pediatric Basic Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support,</I>and <I>Advanced Cardiac Life Support</I>. Emergency cardiovascular careis a dynamic science. Advances in treatment and drug therapies occur rapidly.Readers are advised to check for changes in recommended dose, indications,and contraindications in the following sources: <I>Currents in EmergencyCardiac Care</I>, future editions of this handbook and the AHA textbooks,and the package insert product information sheet for each drug.</P>
<A NAME="anchor5"></A>
<H3><FONT COLOR="#ffffff">Special Acknowledgment</FONT></H3><P>We offer a special thanks to Carol Evans, former National Program Manager,ECC Programs. She originated the idea for a handbook of emergency cardiaccare. William Thies, Director of ECC Programs, embraced the concept withenthusiasm and together with Carol and other National Center staff broughtthe idea to life.</P>
<P>All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, storedin a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior permissionfrom the American Heart Association. Printed in the United States of America.</P>
<A NAME="anchor10"></A>
<P>Permission to photocopy or reproduce solely for internal or personaluse is granted to libraries or other users registered with the CopyrightClearance Center, provided that the base fee of $4.00 per section plus 10cents per page is paid directly to the Copyright Clearance Center, 27 CongressStreet, Salem, MA 01970. This consent does not extend to other kinds ofcopying, such as copying for general distribution, for advertising or promotionalpurposes, for creating new collected works, or for resale.</BODY></HTML>
