CPR – First Aid Instructions
CPR- First Aid Instructions
CPR stands for Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, Cardio refering to the heart and pulmonary refering to the lungs.
It is important to rapidly determine if a casualty is breathing normally and if you are not trained to do this you should contact the emergency services so that the emergency dispatcher can talk you through this.
If a casualty is unresponsive and not breathing normally they are in cardiac arrest and require CPR. Immediately following cardiac arrest blood flow to the brain is reduced to virtually zero, which may cause seizure-like episodes that may be confused with epilepsy.
Kneel down at the side of the casualty and call 99 or 112. Listen carefully to the emergency dispatcher, they are trained to make a rapid diagnosis based on your answers so make sure sure you answer all their questions even though you will be panicing and struggling with an traumatic situation your answers are crucial for the emergency dispatcher.
Try to give a clear location, If you are outside,use landmarks such as pubs or shops if you dont know the name of the road. If you have bystanders around you ask someone to look out for the abulance or if you are inside as the bystander to meet them outside of the building to guide them quickly to the room you are in.
Ask for a first aid kit and an AED ( Automatic External Defibrillator) if they are available. Put on the gloves in the first aid kit and turn on the defibrillator.
Put your phone on the ground next to you and turn on the speaker if your phone has this function so that you have both hands free to follow the disaptcher’s instructions.
If you are on your own shout loudly for someone to help you, they can clear an area to provide privacy for the casualty, ensure you and the casualty are safe from hazards particularly if you are outside, collect a first aid kit and AED, direct an ambulance, record the time , provide some moral support for you!
Dont be afraid to use a defibrillator as the machine will talk you through the required actions and you cannot deliver a shock to someone who does not require one.
Lastly dont be afraid to have a go, the emergency dispatcher will stay on the line with you until the ambulance arrives and the paramedics take over- be brave because you could do something incredible and save a life!
For more information about basic life support see the Resuscitation Council- click here
More first aid instructions soon !
