So how do you save a life? Well, obviously that depends on the
state of the casualty. If they are unconscious and not breathing,
then the answer is CPR. Most of us have been taught this at one time or another
either at school or for work, but without a refresh it’s easy to forget the
steps of CPR. And if you were to find yourself unexpectedly in a situation with
an unconscious casualty, nobody wants to be standing in a helpless
panic.
So you walk into a room to find somebody lying on the floor unconscious. What do you do?
Step 1: you say we need to talk...joking!
Real step 1: Danger - check for danger to yourself and
the casualty. Clear the area around the casualty, and do not move the casualty
unless they are in immediate danger where they are.
Step 2: Response - give the casualty a command, like "can you hear me? open your eyes!" gently shake their shoulders to see if they respond.
Step 3: Airway - open the airway by putting one hand on the forehead and
two fingers from the other hand under the chin to tilt the head back.
Step 4: Breathing - now the airway is open, check for breathing. Do this
by putting your ear to the casualty's mouth and listening for breath, feeling
for breath on your cheek and looking to see if the chest rises. Do this for no
longer than 10 seconds.
*Note here that steps 1-4 make up the DRAB sequence -
Danger, Response, Airway Breathing*
Step 5: The casualty isn't breathing? Go for help if alone or ask
someone else to. This step is very important before you carry on with anything
else.
Step 6: Chest compressions. This involves placing the heel of your hand
on the centre of the chest, and placing your other hand on top to interlock
your fingers. The fingers should stay off the rib cage. Press directly down,
with elbows straight to push the chest down 4-5cm. Release the pressure fully
but keep the hands on the chest. This should be repeated 30 times at a rate of
100/minute. A handy trick is to sing the Bee Gees "Staying alive" to
get the right pace.
Step 7: Rescue breaths. Give two rescue breaths by ensuring the airway
is open, then supporting the chin with finger tips and pinching the soft part
of the nose. Take a breath in and make a mouth to mouth seal with the casualty,
and steadily breath out for 1 second whilst looking to see if the chest rises.
Remove your mouth and watch the chest fall before starting the next rescue
breath.
Step 8: Continue to do 30 chest compressions to two rescue breaths until
professional help arrives or the casualty breaths normally.
So that's how to save a life. But there are a few extras you
should know:
After the DRAB sequence (steps
1-4), you may find the casualty is breathing. Now if the casualty is making
short, infrequent gasps for breath (known as agonal breathing) you should
continue with CPR in the same way as if the casualty was not breathing.
However, if the casualty is breathing normally, then you should put
them into the recovery position and call for help. The recovery
position is a position which keeps the airway open.
Another potential problem is a blocked airway - now,
if visible you can attempt to take it out of the mouth, however
strictly speaking you should not interfere as
this could push the object further down. In this instance
you should perform chest compressions alone without rescue breaths. This is
hands only CPR, as demonstrate by Vinnie Jones in this advert here.
What a legend of a man.
Another problem can arise at step 5 - the chest doesn't rise when
you give a rescue breath. In this case, check the head position, check the
mouth to mouth seal is tight and look for any obstructions in the mouth. Limit
yourself to two attempts at rescue breaths before performing only chest
compressions.
And that there folks is how to potentially save a life.
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References:
St John’s Ambulance Teaching Materials
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