Blog: CPR and First Aid Training
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CPR and First Aid Training - Wednesday, October 14, 2009
My company hosted a two-day CPR and first aid training seminar that I was fortunate to get a seat for (there were only twelve spots available). The pair of three-hour long sessions were taught by one of the security staff who's also a Red Cross instructor. It was cool that the company covered the costs of the materials, the instructor's time and even dinner for the attendees. Win-win for everybody.
So today was the second session, and since we all passed the (very easy) exams we're now lay responders (certificates pending), meaning that we're allowed but not required to provide CPR and/or first aid, which differs from a first responder, who is required to assist a person in need.
Some cool things I learned:
Some of this information is probably inaccurate, which is entirely my fault. Needless to say but for liability reasons, I'm not a CPR/first aid instructor, so please don't read this information and then go try to assist somebody, mess up and then sue me.
Anyway, the training was pretty useful, and though I am by no means an expert, I'll sort of know what to do should a situation arise. I'd recommend to anybody to take CPR/first aid training, as it's offered for free in numerous places. You never know when you may need it, and having training at that time just might make the difference during the crucial minutes before proper help can arrive.
So today was the second session, and since we all passed the (very easy) exams we're now lay responders (certificates pending), meaning that we're allowed but not required to provide CPR and/or first aid, which differs from a first responder, who is required to assist a person in need.
Some cool things I learned:
- You need to identify yourself and get somebody's permission before you can provide assistance. If they're unconscious, there's implied consent, which means you can assume they would've given consent if they were conscious.
- Check, Call and Care. If somebody needs assistance, first check the surroundings and make sure there's no immediate danger to yourself. Move them to a safe area if it makes sense to do so. Call or have somebody else call for help if necessary. Then provide care for the injured person.
- If you're not sure what to do or panic, best to call 911.
- 5 back blows, 5 abdominal thrusts. If somebody is choking, alternate giving them 5 back blows with the bottom of your palm, and 5 abdominal thrusts to the midsection.
- 2 rescue breaths, 30 chest compressions. CPR is performed when somebody has gone into cardiac arrest and involves (at least the Red Cross-endorsed method) giving 2 rescue breaths of 1 second each, then 30 chest compressions to the mid-chest. You should be doing five cycles of this every two minutes.
- To bandage an open wound, first apply pressure with gauze until the bleeding stops. Then wrap the gauze firmly with dressing.
- If somebody has a broken arm, you can wrap their arm in a sling by wrapping it in a triangular-shaped cloth tied around their neck.
- FAST. To determine if somebody's having a stroke, ask them to smile (Face), raise their Arms, note how quickly or clearly they can Speak, and note the Time at which the symptoms started.
- If somebody's having a seizure, help them onto the ground onto their back and let them have the seizure. Don't try to restrain them.
- A diabetic feeling weak/dizzy/light-headed should be given sugar in liquid form. If their sugar level is too low, the sugar they ingest will help. If it's too high, the extra sugar won't cause any extra harm (sounds weird, but that's what the manual said!).
- Overexposure to heat may cause heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, in that order. Heat stroke may be fatal. Allow them to lie down in a cool place, place something like towels soaked in cold water on their chest and forehead, and give them small sips of water.
Some of this information is probably inaccurate, which is entirely my fault. Needless to say but for liability reasons, I'm not a CPR/first aid instructor, so please don't read this information and then go try to assist somebody, mess up and then sue me.
Anyway, the training was pretty useful, and though I am by no means an expert, I'll sort of know what to do should a situation arise. I'd recommend to anybody to take CPR/first aid training, as it's offered for free in numerous places. You never know when you may need it, and having training at that time just might make the difference during the crucial minutes before proper help can arrive.