First aid and CPR training are essential skills that can save lives in critical situations. Knowing how to provide basic life support can make all the difference in the outcome of an emergency. Real-life success stories demonstrate the effectiveness of first aid and CPR training and highlight the importance of these skills in everyday life.
By completing nationally recognised first aid courses, people can gain the confidence and skills needed to respond to emergency situations and provide appropriate help until medical assistance arrives. Up-to-date training, including refresher courses, is essential to ensure that individuals are equipped to respond to life threatening events and provide effective first aid and CPR as needed.
What Is First Aid?
First aid refers to the immediate and primary care provided to someone suffering from an injury or a sudden illness. The main objectives of first aid are to save lives, prevent the situation from deteriorating, and support recovery before professional medical assistance is available.
This care may encompass various basic yet vital techniques like treating and bandaging wounds, executing CPR, and managing different injuries and medical emergencies. Usually performed by people with first aid training, it plays a vital role in lessening the effects of accidents and health emergencies until expert medical treatment can be given.
What Is CPR?
CPR, short for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a critical emergency technique used when a person’s breathing or heart rate ceases. As a crucial method for saving lives, the Australian Resuscitation Council estimates that performing CPR can double or triple the chances of survival for someone in cardiac arrest.
The procedure combines chest compressions, which ensure the circulation of oxygenated blood, with rescue breaths that supply oxygen to the individual’s lungs. It’s advised for use on individuals who are unresponsive and either not breathing or breathing abnormally such as gasping for breath. CPR plays an essential role in sustaining blood circulation and oxygen levels until expert medical assistance arrives.
Real Life CPR Success Story
The following story appeared in the Daily Telegraph online in 2017.
Nine-year-old Cooper Appleyard’s life was miraculously saved thanks to the CPR skills of his dance teacher. Cooper Appleyard, a young dancer, faced a life-threatening situation due to an uncommon heart condition.
He owes his survival to Danielle MacCaskell, one of his dance instructors, who quickly performed effective CPR. This incident is a testament to the critical need for knowledge of child resuscitation techniques.
Just three weeks ago, while practicing for a year-end performance at his dance school in Sylvania Heights, Cooper, an energetic nine-year-old, executed a flawless no-handed cartwheel before suddenly collapsing, pulseless.
Danielle MacCaskell, 22, who is not only a dance instructor but also a trained nurse, quickly sprang into action. She administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation, effectively keeping Cooper alive until emergency medical services arrived.
The quick thinking and action of Ms. MacCaskell have left Cooper’s parents deeply thankful, firmly believing that her CPR skills were the key to saving their son’s life.
Cooper’s father emphasised the critical role of CPR in this incident, stating, “Without that CPR, he would have died – that’s what the doctors have told us.”
Steps to Perform CPR on Adults and Children
In order to administer effective CPR you really need to complete accredited training. That being said, health experts frequently bemoan the fact that most people who suffer a cardiac arrest or heart attack outside of hospital, will unfortunately die simply because bystanders do nothing. Research shows that this is because of either ignorance or a lack of confidence.
While what follows cannot replace an accredited first aid qualification, we offer these basic instructions in the interests of better first aid awareness.
The steps to performing CPR on adults and children are as follows:
Follow the DRSABCD Action Plan:
- Check for Danger: Ensure the area is safe for both the rescuer and the victim.
- Check for Responsiveness: Tap the person and shout to check if they are responsive.
- Call for Help: If the person is unresponsive, call emergency services or ask someone else to do so.
- Open the Airway: Tilt the head back and lift the chin to open the airway.
- Check for Breathing: Look, listen, and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds.
- Start Compressions and Rescue Breaths: If the person is not breathing normally, start CPR with 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths.
Compress the individual’s nose closed, form a tight seal over their mouth, and give two rescue breaths, each for roughly one second, making sure the chest rises.
The following easy reference chart will also help you to remember these steps for effective emergency response
Executing Chest Compressions
Compressions are essential for sustaining blood flow before the arrival of emergency services or a defibrillator. Recent studies have shown that hands-only CPR is very effective on adults and teenagers suffering cardiac failure, especially if they have just collapsed. Simpler than CPR with breaths, it is also more likely that untrained bystanders will attempt this method of basic life support in the event of an emergency.
Here’s the method for hands-only CPR
- Carefully turn the person onto their back.
- Clear their chest area of any clothing that may hinder access.
- Position yourself beside the person. Place the heel of one hand in the middle of their chest, right on the sternum. Stack your other hand on top, fingers interlaced.
- Apply steady, forceful pushes at a pace of 100 to 120 compressions each minute, mirroring the beat of “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees. The depth of compressions should be:
- Approximately 2 to 2.4 inches (5 to 6 cm) for adults (employ both hands).
- Around 2 inches (5 cm) for children (use one or both hands).
- About 1.5 inches (4 cm) for infants (utilize two fingers).
- Make sure the chest fully rises back up after each compression.
- Persist with the compressions until either an AED is at hand or emergency personnel arrive.
The Vital Role of First Aid and CPR Training
As this article illustrates, the importance of first aid and CPR training cannot be overstated. In emergency situations, these skills are not just beneficial; they are often the difference between life and death. The story of Cooper Appleyard and the quick response of his dance teacher, Danielle MacCaskell, exemplifies how crucial it is to be prepared for these unexpected moments.
In response to the growing need for these essential life-saving skills, First Aid Pro, a leading registered training organisation, offers comprehensive first aid and CPR courses. Their nationally recognised courses, including HLTAID011 – Provide First Aid and HLTAID009 – Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, are available Australia-wide, including in Campbelltown, NSW.
For those living in or near Campbelltown, this is an opportunity to equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to potentially save a life. Whether it’s responding to a cardiac emergency, managing injuries, or administering CPR, the training you receive can make all the difference in critical situations.
For more information about the CPR course in Campbelltown, please visit CPR Campbelltown. For details about the First Aid Course in Campbelltown, click on First Aid Course Campbelltown.
Invest in your ability to make a difference in someone’s life. Sign up for a course today and be prepared for the moments when it matters most.