How many people can do CPR?

[parakitaMol.]

I have a friend who trains CPR. She was showing me some cardiac arrest videos last night which really surprised me because of the age of the people, also the speed which they happened.

The footballer.(Don't watch if sensitive, he dies.)
The shocking thing is that he is young, fit, and smiling immmediately before the event.

The surfer. I would have mistaken his gasping during resuscitation for real breathing, which it wasn't.

Yes the vids are quite old. They really made me think though.

I've been in the position of watching a freind die at the scene of an accident. I didn't know what to do, I'm still not sure I would be much good. Would you know what to do?

[filski666]

yes, used to be a lifeguard

[parakitaMol.]

Ahhh... perhaps I should have put the *excluding those who do it/have done it for a livng.

[matchmaker]

Yes - used to be an RNLI first aider.

[Cara Van Man]

We are trained in various first aid....over the last couple of years the protocol for CPR has changed numorous times. It's quite hard to keep up with.

ETA: The trouble is, we are taught that CPR rarely works and it is better to go for proper medical help rather than fanny about.

Edited by Cara Van Man on Thursday 6th November 07:49

[Drop Test b3nxj]

Yep, im the firstaider at work

[filski666]

parakitaMol. said:

Ahhh... perhaps I should have put the *excluding those who do it/have done it for a livng.

well, I think I still count - before I was actually employed as a lifeguard, I used to do "lifesaving" - which is training and competitions in swimming and lifesaving skills - a lot of the people who do it go on to work as (or already are) lifeguards, but some just do it for fun - I did it because it was more interesting than normal competitive swimming, and went on to become a lifeguard part time while doing my A levels.

[thebluebus]

I had a baby CPR and resuscitation course when little Bluebus was imminent.

Lucky I paid attention, as I would otherwise have panicked when he started choking after he got some pepperoni from my day-old-meat-feast pizza stuck in his throat.

So it must have sunk in. And it also gave me an understanding of the basic important areas to address. Although not necessarily how to do it correctly in an adult case. Baby CPR is quite different, obviously.

What surprised me most was how rational and calm I felt with my little boy going bulgy-eyed and purple - simply because the course meant I understood what I needed to do.

[ALawson]

Did St Johns maybe 6 years ago so have lapsed. I can still remember the trainer finishing the 2 day course saying don't worry if you don't revive them, most people die anyway.

Luckily never had to use CPR but have had a few other bloody incidents to clear up, nobody die mine you.

[parakitaMol.]

Cara Van Man said:

ETA: The trouble is, we are taught that CPR rarely works and it is better to go for proper medical help rather than fanny about.

Really!??

[Puff Puff]

Yup - can do it and carry a Heartstart card in my wallet.

Check out here if interested: http://www.bhf.org.uk/

[filski666]

parakitaMol. said:

Cara Van Man said:

ETA: The trouble is, we are taught that CPR rarely works and it is better to go for proper medical help rather than fanny about.

Really!??

I think that depends entirely on the situation and your level of training.

[Rach*]

I have refresher training every 6 months, 2 patients have collapsed in my surgery thankfully neither needed CPR.
My old boss told me that statistically 1 patient will die in your career!

[rsv gone!]

parakitaMol. said:

I've been in the position of watching a freind die at the scene of an accident. I didn't know what to do, I'm still not sure I would be much good. Would you know what to do?

No. For this reason, I've been badgering my employers to send me on a first aid course (fruitlessly!). I'll have to sort one out myself.

[Mr_annie_vxr]

CPR - is not really the issue in these cases. Defibrillator training and availability is the only thing that may have helped.

[Jinx]

Drop Test b3nxj said:

Yep, im the firstaider at work

Ditto.

[hugoagogo]

the last 1st aid course i did, i was told that 'reviving' them wasn't the point, it was keeping their brain alive until someone came with defibrillator (and it is quite hard work, for seemingly little feedback, most people give up when the patient doesn't burst back into life)

[Mr_annie_vxr]

hugoagogo said:

the last 1st aid course i did, i was told that 'reviving' them wasn't the point, it was keeping their brain alive until someone came with defibrillator (and it is quite hard work, for seemingly little feedback, most people give up when the patient doesn't burst back into life)

It can be a long and tiring process with many uncomfortable noises.

[Jasandjules]

Had basic training many, many moons ago. Wouldn't try it these days I don't think unless everyone else refused to do so.

Have a friend or two who are docs, they are told that if you don't crack a rib, you are not applying enough pressure, which kinda worried me!!

[SamHH]

parakitaMol. said:

Cara Van Man said:

ETA: The trouble is, we are taught that CPR rarely works and it is better to go for proper medical help rather than fanny about.

Really!??

I don't know if it would be accurate to say CPR rarely works (I don't know what the survival rate is for people who are given CPR) but in a lot of cases, maybe most cases, it alone is not going to revive someone, it's only going to keep their organs perfused with oxygen for long enough to get drugs or a defibrillator. Obviously the former is not available to a first aider, but there are automated defibrillators like the one used in the Bondi video that are pretty simple.

Edited by SamHH on Thursday 6th November 08:30