Have you ever thought that you wouldn’t know how to act if someone had stopped breathing?
I have found that remaining calm in this situation is vital, not just for the casualty’s life, but for your life and other lives around you.
Research from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute tell us that around 20,000 Australians suffer a cardiac arrest outside a hospital every year. Only 10% of people will survive an out of hospital cardiac arrest.
Today I want to share with you the 7 steps to emergency first aid DRSABCD.
Danger
Look, listen and smell around the environment for things that do not belong and that are dangerous
First check danger for yourself.
You cannot help the casualty or others around if you are injured.
Second check danger for other people around the area.
You do not want to have any other casualties. Remember that someone that looks alright and says they are ok initially could become unwell as time goes on.
Finally check danger for the casualty.
In a nice way, they are already sick or injured from the incident. Remember that the casualty themselves can be a danger to you. They may have body fluids which can be transmitted to you or they become aggressive.
Response
This is to see if the casualty is conscious or unconscious. Look for any type of response, a movement, a spoken word or a noise.
If the casualty is conscious (responsive) place them into the recovery position (on their side). If they are unconscious (non-responsive) leave them on their back.
Send for help
Call Triple Zero (000), ask for an ambulance and follow their instructions.
Talk slow and clear. Answer all the operators’ questions with short, sharp and precise answers. No waffle!
Also send for a first aid kit and a defibrillator.
Airway
Look inside the casualty’s mouth for any foreign objects. If foreign objects found, put casualty on their side and allow the objects to fall out.
If no foreign objects in their mouth, tilt the casualty’s head back.
Breathing
Check the casualty for normal breathing.
Using the back part of one hand near the casualty’s mouth and nose and the other hand placed on their chest. Look, listen and feel for the casualty’s breathing. Stay in this position and check their breathing for 10 seconds.
If they are not breathing normally, you need to start CPR as soon as possible.
CPR
Compressions are the most important component of CPR as it circulates the already oxygenated blood around the body, specifically circulating it to the brain to keep the brain alive. The Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines state ‘If you are unwilling or unable to provide rescue breaths, provide compression only CPR.’
The ratio is 30 compressions: 2 breaths for all casualties no matter their age or size.
Adult (8 + years): 2 hand compressions – full breaths with a full head tilt
Child (1 – 8 years): 1 hand compression – ½ breaths with a slight/ particle head tilt
Infant (Under 12 months): 2 fingers compression – puff of cheek with no head tilt
Remember “Any Attempt at Resuscitation is Better Than No Attempt!” – Australian Resuscitation Council
Defibrillator
CPR is used to preserve life, Defibrillator’s save lives!
It is simple, if a casualty is not breathing, their heart is not working properly. You need to attach an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the casualty’s chest as soon as possible.
Follow the AED’s voice and picture instructions.
Remember CPR never stops when putting on a Defibrillator, you only pause CPR when the AED tells you it’s analysing.
Keep an eye out for more blogs on the 7 steps to emergency first aid where I will go into more detail on each step.
If you have found value from this blog or you have a question, please leave a comment in the comment section, share it with your friends and visit my Instagram and Facebook pages. References: https://www.victorchang.edu.au/cardiacarrest#:~:text=Around%2020%2C000%20Australians%20suffer%20a,out%20of%20hospital%20cardiac%20arrest.