First aid

[DrSquirrel]

Funnily enough the CPR guidelines were changed a few years ago to encourage people to administer CPR if they were in the slightest doubt that a person may not be breathing.
The old colour, pulse and rescue breath steps were removed and the first aider is now taught to check for breathing and if in doubt go straight into the 30 to 2 routine. The logic being that it's better to perform CPR on a beating heart than to not perform CPR on a stopped heart.

We now use a Defib at work that takes out all the guess work and talks you through the defib process.

I guess I really need to get back on a course sooner then and refresh it all.

Though - how hard is it for some people to find a pulse? Wouldn't it be better to at least try quickly before carrying on with CPR.

 

[Mark_Robson]

Mark

You are partially right in what you say, however rescue breaths do still exist.
5 rescue breaths and 1 minutes CPR should be given to children and victims of drowning, before a lone rescuer would go for help.
ABCs always used to be first, but I believe that checking for a pulse was removed as it was thought that the lay man would have difficulty finding it. So now its Airway, Breathing then into CPR.

Your right AF I wasn't thinking about kids and drowning.

 

[Chrisz]

Re First Aid on other cyclists, aren't you meant to check the bike over, tell them it's fine, couple of scratches etc....and give them a kick up the butt, HTFU, and send them on their way ?

Sounds right to me!! I was desperate to protect my pride and joy when I got downed a couple of months ago. The casualty nurse asked about the road rash all over my back - didn't seem to understand my response;- "Skin heals itself, carbon fibre doesn't!"

 

[addictfreak]

There are often changes in terms of number of breaths, compression etc. I think it sometimes confuses people, especially those who vary rarely get to put there skills to use.
I always say that the important thing is to do something, whether its 5:1 15:2 or 30:2 its certainly better than doing nothing!

 

[summerdays]

There are often changes in terms of number of breaths, compression etc. I think it sometimes confuses people, especially those who vary rarely get to put there skills to use.
I always say that the important thing is to do something, whether its 5:1 15:2 or 30:2 its certainly better than doing nothing!

It has seemed to change literally every single time I've had a refresher course - I'm glad I have to have the courses every few years.

 

[Mark82]

TV is actually a valid point.

Our Tlust's resuscitation documents clearly state that the accomplishments on TV are unrealistic and whilst Charlie Fairhead might have a 95% success rate it does not happen in real life

i remember my tutor telling me that only a very very small number of people survive if they need cpr its not like bay watch or casualty where the patient cough's and they are hunky dory.... but without a doubt id still do it, they might be one of the lucky ones..

 

[fossyant]

Sounds right to me!! I was desperate to protect my pride and joy when I got downed a couple of months ago. The casualty nurse asked about the road rash all over my back - didn't seem to understand my response;- "Skin heals itself, carbon fibre doesn't!"

Exactly, then your body doesn't fix like a rubber ball any more............. ouch.............. you think it did.............nope........... PS applies to us 30 plus guys/gals................
And your bike has a scratch..OMFG................ sort it............

 

[2Loose]

It has seemed to change literally every single time I've had a refresher course - I'm glad I have to have the courses every few years.

Indeed, but once upon a time, a very long time ago (in a far, far away galaxy) it was normal to smear butter over a burn...and then let the nurses SCRUB it off once in hospital.

Things change, in first aid normally for the more sensible and knowledgeable reasons.

 

[Peter10]

I get first aid training every 6 months which I do enjoy a lot anyway, but it is a necessity for my job. Useful when out and about though. Only recently when leaving the gym someone had passed out in the street with family members who had no idea what to do. I put her in the recovery position and used the first aid kit I keep in my car to sort out the cuts to her head sustained from the fall.

A lot of people are concerned these days about being criticised or sued when giving first aid. As far as I am aware, nobody (who holds a valid first aid card at least) has been successfully sued for trying to save someone's life by doing correct actions. For instance, we are now trained to remove a motorcyclist helmet if they can't breathe/stopped breathing. Our policy, as bad as it may sound is "a broken neck is better than death" and it is true. If they press charges, it won't go anywhere.

Everyone should get first aid training in school, the only issue is doing refresher training after that, which I feel is a necessity.

I am looking at a career change in the next few years and hope to join the ambulance service. I would join St Johns but can't due to work commitments.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Though - how hard is it for some people to find a pulse?

Last refresher I did, I was partnered with a rather overweight person, and I couldn't find a carotid pulse at all.

 

[surfgurl]

I've done the basic one day emergency first aid course as I work in a boarding school. Mostly it is cuts, grazes, sprains, broken bones and minor illnesses. I've never had to do CPR.
I'd like to do a more indepth course to boost my confidence and skills. What do people recommend?

 

[mangaman]

I've done the basic one day emergency first aid course as I work in a boarding school. Mostly it is cuts, grazes, sprains, broken bones and minor illnesses. I've never had to do CPR.
I'd like to do a more indepth course to boost my confidence and skills. What do people recommend?

I think you have to be very careful and know what you're doing before attempting CPR.

The St Johns Ambulance are excellant and provide a graded program of skills - up to defibrillation.

I would get in touch with your local branch

https://www.sja.org....CFeFc4wodph9s6A

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Yes I was trained as part of my last job. I keep a first aid kit close by.

Thankfully I have never had to use it on anyone other than myself

 

[dondare]

I have been on many first aid courses over many years. They used to teach us how to bandage up an injured body like an Egyption embalmer; now it's just "Keep them breathing, stop the bleeding, and call an ambulance".

 

[Amanda P]

I've done the basic one day emergency first aid course as I work in a boarding school. Mostly it is cuts, grazes, sprains, broken bones and minor illnesses. I've never had to do CPR.
I'd like to do a more indepth course to boost my confidence and skills. What do people recommend?

The next step up from the one-day emergency aid is the four-day first aid at work course. Your employer might be persuaded to put you on this - it's worth a go, even if they already have one full first-aider on the staff. Two heads are better than one.

St John's is the obvious training provider. There are branches nationwide. Some FE colleges run courses too, but the actual trainers are often from St John's anyway. At a college, though, the costs might be lower as they're sometimes subsidized by the local authority.

Either way, considering the value of what you'll learn, it's a very cheap course compared with most. Go for it.