Senior First Aid Do you know what to do?

it is the case in some European countries since ages ...
I made a licence in Europe over 35 years ago and it was a prerequisit ...
but we all know .. things take a bit longer to reach Australia .. lol ..
have fun
gmd

Latest technique is:

Ensure clear airway, ear over mouth and nose, hand on lower ribcage.

If you don't get two distinct breaths within ten seconds call for help.

Two quick breaths and listen again.

If not go straight into CPR. 2 quick breaths followed by 30 rapid chest compressions of the lower half of the ribcage to one third of chest thickness.

Do not check pulse and do not stop until medical aid arrives, defibrillator arrives or physical exhaustion sets in.

Watch their signs, if they spark up again, you'll see it.

Main priority is to get blood pressure back and circulating a.s.a.p.

One way that is moderately successful is to wet the back of your hand and hold it close to the nose or mouth and feel for exhaled air. The side of your cheek is also very sensitive to cool. Wet it and hold close to the nose or mouth.

This is not a garantee but it is a system that is more likely than most to be successful.

If there is any doubt commence CPR. Even if you are not sure about the numbers what you do will be better than nothing.

I carry a photo of my success. He is walking and talking and getting bigger every day. What I did would not have passed the exam but it kept him alive.

That's not an excuse not to get trained. I am and was trained at the time. The training kept me calm and gave me the confidence to have a go.

Duncs

Squeeze both trapezius muscles on each side of the neck. If they move/moan/grimace or react in any way......they are breathing. You then have to check how adequate it is. If on an adult you do not get 2 breaths in a ten second period.......commence EAR. And if need be CPR.

Hold a mirror under nostrils or over mouth. If breathing mist will show on mirrior faint misting = faint brathing

Do you carry a mirror in your pocket Bentaxle? I'm not having a go at you mate, and it's something I too considered as a viable indicator until recently.

Fortunately not a real emergency, but running through some scenarios as part of CFS training. There is the real possibility we could be on scene before ambos (in this area where there's no full time crew, or constant volunteer cover), so when I jumped in the car and had to assess the driver, several things stay with me:

It's relatively easy to assess consciousness & circulation, but breathing I found much harder to ascertain. And I reckon once I'm presented with someone who's unconcsious, there's no way I'm leaving that person until someone more qualified arrives, or their condition is stable.

Mirror is a good suggestion and whilst I don't have one in my pocket [insert breaking too many joke here!]... if you're in a car accident, you can be sure of at least three that are now surplus to requirement (rear-view and two wing ones, for those slow on the uptake :) )

Cheers,

Tim

The official line is if they do not respond to voice or a firm squeeze of the shoulders they are unconscious. If after checking airway and tilting head back to open airway you can not detect 2 noticable (ie: healthy) breaths in a 10 second period by listening, feeling and watching the lower rib area they are not breathing. No tools required. If you cannot detect breathing this way, they are not breathing. Give them 2 quick breaths by mouth to mouth and a re-examine the casualty. If still no response go straight into CPR. Do not check for pulse. Do not stop.

Hey V8

IN the N.T you now do a senior First aid Course this takes 3 days.

In 3 years you do a 1 day refresher.

As of last year you then do another 3 day course, then 3 years 1 day and then 3 years 3 day's and so on.

Cheers Steve.

Two days training in WA for Senior First Aid with St John's.

I trained with St John's to Ambulance Officer Class 1 level in Karratha and New Norcia years ago, all changed these days. Scarily so in fact.

I have kept mine up to date for the past 25 years (1 day refresher every 3 years)and yes it has changed significantly but I am finding it is changing to be more simple every time......... My last refresher was in August.
As for mouth to mouth it is very interesting doing it 50 metres away from a boat, in 1 metre swell and towing the person back to the boat whilst breathing for them. Haven't done it for real but that was what the conditions were for my training.

Motherhen

You would be surprised, A while after my course I attended a serious accident.

2 4wds head on in Litchfield N.P, there were 6 people involved, I was the first person there that had a First aid Certificate of any kind.

After I had assessed the scene, I set about First Aid and there were many on lookers, after about 5 min a guy asked if I need help (he had turned up after me ) I asked if he new fist aid.

He told me he was a Paramedic I then said you can take over, his reply was NO it's your scene your doing fine what would you like me to do.

After the Ambulance arrived I spoke to this man and asked him why he left me in charge, his answer was it was under control and there was no time for politics.

He then asked me for my phone # and 2 weeks latter I got a call from ST Johns asking me to come and pick up the supplies that had been used from my First Aid Kit.

There were 4 French backpackers with minor cuts and abrasions 2 Ozzie's with no problems 1 woman that was 5 months pregnant and her husband that when into shock.

All went well at the end.

Cheers Steve

I agree Robin, there certainly is a difference between first aid and medical aid. Battle field type - start the breathing, stop the bleeding and ship them out should almost be mandatory for every one getting a licence but then seeing how some people drive perhaps I would not be that keen to have them work on me :-))

Hey Brian

All our first aid kits have those protective masks.

Cheers Steve.

Go mouth to nose. Done properly with good head tilt you will still get adequate inflation.

Cheers
Dave