Cardio Pumonary Resussitation (CPR)
Hands Only CPRNot everyone feels comfortable doing mouth to mouth resussitation
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bare in mind this video is from 2009. Since then we have changed to 2 rescue breaths instead of 5.
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Agonal Breathing and CPR
A 16 year old girl swimmer died after a lifeguard stopped CPR when she started breathing again, she thought that she had saved her life a Coroner heard…
Abstracts:
Heart specialist Dr Christopher Duke said Sophie ‘would have survived’ if she had received continuous CPR. He said ‘You don’t stop resuscitation just because a patient appears to be breathing. You only stop if there’s breathing and a pulse.’
The coroner Catherine Mason said she would write to the Resuscitation Council of the UK, which provides guidelines for life-saving techniques, to ask it to amend its training guidelines to include checking for a pulse.
The inquest heard Sophie’s initial cardiac arrest was caused by an undiagnosed heart condition.
Comment.
The Casualty could have easily re-arrested causing death. Detecting a pulse (or the absence of one) would have identified the need to continue CPR. However, it is feasible the first aider misinterpreted ‘Agonal’ breathing (which is a sign of dying) with ‘Normal’ breathing (a sign of life). If this is the case, ineffective training may be the problem not the first aider or the Resuscitation Council’s guidelines.
A first aider is not a medical professional and in this the case the first aider has acted in good faith and within her training. Overall, the first aider should be praised for her actions, not criticised.
(Note: AoFA comments are based on reported news items as stated below.)
UK Resuscitation Council Guidelines:
Studies have shown that pulse checking is difficult and unreliable especially for laypersons including first aiders, Some years ago, pulse check and checking for ‘Signs of Life’ was removed from basic life support (BLS) training and replaced with a single ‘Normal Breathing’ check. This change was designed to simplify and improve the outcome of CPR.
Agonal Breathing:
Agonal breathing is present up to 40% of pre-hospital cardiac arrests. It is important that first aiders can recognise agonal breathing.
Agonal breathing can sound like gasping, snorting, gurgling, moaning or laboured breathing. It is NOT ‘normal’ breathing.
If in doubt, do CPR. It is better to do CPR when not needed that not to do CPR when needed!
source; (http://www.firstaidforlife.org.uk/when-to-look-for-a-pulse-what-is-agonal-breathing/) accessed April 2014
Abstracts:
Heart specialist Dr Christopher Duke said Sophie ‘would have survived’ if she had received continuous CPR. He said ‘You don’t stop resuscitation just because a patient appears to be breathing. You only stop if there’s breathing and a pulse.’
The coroner Catherine Mason said she would write to the Resuscitation Council of the UK, which provides guidelines for life-saving techniques, to ask it to amend its training guidelines to include checking for a pulse.
The inquest heard Sophie’s initial cardiac arrest was caused by an undiagnosed heart condition.
Comment.
The Casualty could have easily re-arrested causing death. Detecting a pulse (or the absence of one) would have identified the need to continue CPR. However, it is feasible the first aider misinterpreted ‘Agonal’ breathing (which is a sign of dying) with ‘Normal’ breathing (a sign of life). If this is the case, ineffective training may be the problem not the first aider or the Resuscitation Council’s guidelines.
A first aider is not a medical professional and in this the case the first aider has acted in good faith and within her training. Overall, the first aider should be praised for her actions, not criticised.
(Note: AoFA comments are based on reported news items as stated below.)
UK Resuscitation Council Guidelines:
Studies have shown that pulse checking is difficult and unreliable especially for laypersons including first aiders, Some years ago, pulse check and checking for ‘Signs of Life’ was removed from basic life support (BLS) training and replaced with a single ‘Normal Breathing’ check. This change was designed to simplify and improve the outcome of CPR.
Agonal Breathing:
Agonal breathing is present up to 40% of pre-hospital cardiac arrests. It is important that first aiders can recognise agonal breathing.
Agonal breathing can sound like gasping, snorting, gurgling, moaning or laboured breathing. It is NOT ‘normal’ breathing.
If in doubt, do CPR. It is better to do CPR when not needed that not to do CPR when needed!
source; (http://www.firstaidforlife.org.uk/when-to-look-for-a-pulse-what-is-agonal-breathing/) accessed April 2014
lesson_plan_for_cpr_inc_full_explanation_of_agonal_breathing.docx | |
File Size: | 13 kb |
File Type: | docx |
steps_to_perform_adult_cpr.doc | |
File Size: | 30 kb |
File Type: | doc |
per_cpr.ppt | |
File Size: | 189 kb |
File Type: | ppt |
heart_attack_scratch.sb | |
File Size: | 55 kb |
File Type: | sb |
Substance Misuse and CPR
Due to the effects that some recreational, legal or illegal drugs have on the body, this can result in the person having a heart attack or a blood clot that can result in a stroke or heart attack. It is essential that friends inform the paramedic or doctor of any substances the casualty has taken in order for the best treatment to be administered. Some effects can be counteracted by other drugs which can help increase the casualty survival rates.