CPR Has Changed

As mentioned in our previous blog on First Aid Advice during COVID-19, officials are updating their guidance on First Aid and CPR protocols in light of the pandemic outbreak.

This isn’t just relevant to First Aiders; all of the general public should be keeping an eye on these important updates to ensure they can keep themselves and others safe.

How to Handle an Emergency

If someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally, the first things you need to are:

  • Call 999 or 112 for emergency help
  • Start cardiopulmonary resuscitation* straight away

*However, advice on performing CPR is currently different – read on to find out more.

What’s New?

Usually, CPR combines chest compressions and rescue breaths – this is to give a casualty the best chance of survival after a sudden cardiac arrest.

St John Ambulance have updated their information, advising that rescue breaths should not be given to another person due to COVID-19 risks.

How to Approach a Casualty

A primary survey is the first thing you should to if you come across someone who’s collapsed. This involves establishing if the person is unresponsive or not breathing, but doing so without placing your face close to theirs.

Remember that cross-contamination occurs from water droplets expelled out of the mouth, so avoid risking yourself to this sort of contact as best you can.

Obviously, if someone’s life is at risk, it’s crucial to help. But only get close in a safe and sensible manner once you’re certain it’s necessary.

Regular hygiene practices like frequently washing your hands and carrying around antibacterial gel mean you can feel more ready to approach someone without putting them at further risk.

Use a Helper if Possible

If someone is available to help, ask them to call 999 or 112 for emergency help. Enlisting someone else to do this allows you to save crucial seconds, or even minutes, so you can perform CPR as soon as possible.

Make sure you also ask your helper to find and bring a defibrillator (if one is readily available). If the helper returns with a defibrillator, ask them to switch it on and follow the voice prompts while you continue with CPR.

Don’t leave the casualty to look for a defibrillator yourself – the paramedics will have a one on arrival.

Your helper may put the phone on speaker and hold it towards you at a safe 2-metre distance. Or, if you’re on your own, you can use the hands-free speaker to allow you to start CPR whilst speaking to the emergency service.

Wherever possible, you should maintain a 2-metre distance with your helper.

How to Perform Safe CPR

Before you make contact with the casualty, use a towel or piece of clothing to lay over the person’s mouth and nose. This will help to protect you from the potential spread of viruses.

Kneel by the casualty and put the heel of your hand in the centre of their chest, then your other hand on top with interlocked fingers (making sure they don’t touch the ribs).

With straight arms, lean over the person and press down hard (about 5-6cm deep) before releasing pressure and letting the chest come back up.

You know the song “Staying Alive” by Bee Gees? Well used that beat to keep your compressions at the right speed!

Remember, no rescue breaths.

When to Stop CPR

You should continue doing this until:

  • Emergency help can take over
  • The casualty starts to breathe normally and becomes responsive
  • You’re too exhausted to carry on (if you have a helper, you can alternate every now and again, with minimal interruptions to chest compressions)
  • A defibrillator is ready to be used

If the person shows signs of life – like coughing, opening their eyes, speaking and starts breathing normally – then you should put them in the recovery position. Keep an eye on their responsiveness and be ready to give CPR again if necessary.

Lastly, if you’ve used a defibrillator, leave it attached.

CPR Summary

First Aid at Direct365

At Direct365, we supply a range of high quality First Aid products at affordable prices.

Our aim is to help businesses around the UK to stay safe and compliant, so we price-compare our range regularly to provide the best deals for top supplies.

For First Aid kitsdefibrillatorstraining videos and more, browse our product range here.


COVID-19 UPDATE:
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