Lee Whitworth Past Master and Owner and Trainer A&E Harmonious Compliance Training Ltd, was asked to deliver a talk on (CPR), CardioPulmonary Resuscitation and Safe use of an (AED), Automatic External Defibrillator. Lee started by talking about how important it is to gain access to a local AED and the benefits of getting an AED on the body as quickly as possible. Lee explained the way to contact the emergency services and get access to a Defibrillator and what to do whilst you are waiting for one if you have sent a bystander to collect one. He also explained why they have codes and how this system works to ensure the defibrillator is checked, new pads attached if necessary and getting the defibrillator ready for use again. Lee explained that The Circuit www.thecircuit.uk is the national database which all UK Ambulance Services have signed up to; this is where any Defibrillator that is accessible to the public should be registered and this database supports and filters through to The National Website Defib Finder, allowing anyone to find the 10 nearest Defibrillators to any postcode: defibfinder.uk
Lee then talked about technique over strength and that hands only CPR is better than nothing BUT (in the words of John Spiking’s from Zetland Lodge 603 Yorkshire East Ridings) the Gold Standard of CPR includes rescue breaths. If you are willing to and preferably with a face shield, rescue breaths give a greater chance of survival by adding oxygen to chest compressions and the use of a Defibrillator can make a massive difference to survival and quality of life, if successful. ANY chest compressions are better than nothing, however training gives you the knowledge and the confidence to give the patient a better chance of survival.
Lee then gave a full demonstration from finding the casualty, calling for help, sending someone for a Defibrillator; whilst checking the scene for Danger, trying to get a Response from the casualty, checking the Airway and then checking if the casualty is Breathing normally. (DRAB). Why you must start CPR as soon as possible after establishing the casualty needs support and then applying the Defibrillator as soon as it arrives. Lee demonstrated that all you must do to use a Defibrillator is TURN IT ON, follow the instructions and stay calm. The defibrillator tells you to apply the pads, as per the pictures on them, stand clear whilst the defibrillator checks the body or is shocking and then to give a shock or not, depending on the rhythm the machine picks up from the heart. The Defibrillator then tells you to start CPR. Peter Green DC then came and demoed using a Defibrillator with no guidance, to prove how easy it is to just have a go and use one, after which members and visitors to Bede College Lodge were encouraged to have a go Barry Nicholson asked several great questions, which allowed Lee to point out that when giving rescue breaths you must ensure that you do a head tilt and chin lift and no one in the UK has every been sued for attempting CPR, anything is better than nothing.
Lee then moved on to talk about an amazing piece of equipment that Yorkshire Ambulance Service Volunteer Responders use to lift uninjured fallen patients and to demonstrate that his Volunteer First Responders use this Razor Chair to lift a fallen patient, with the power of one finger! Alas, due to the fact that the chair alone costs £4500-£5000, before you consider the responder would also carry other equipment, like a Defibrillator, Oxygen, Slides Sheets, Grab Sheet and Belts, meaning a Falls Responders equipment costs approximately £8000 per kit, Yorkshire Ambulance Service has approximately 900 Volunteer Community Responders across the whole trust, and they have multiple Responder Schemes within this. However only a small amount of these schemes have falls capabilities due to cost of the equipment and the extra time volunteers need to give on scene.
Lee built the chair around the fallen patient, Dave Young, who was amazed that the chair could lift him ….. so easily. Lee explained that a CFR would complete a full set of observations on a patient and obtain a (NEWS) National Early Warning score, they would then obtain guidance from a clinician in the Clinical Hub, who would then grant or deny permission to lift. The Responder can then lift a patient with one finger whilst only needing to support the patient’s head. When the chair is halfway up, the CFR would check the BP and then lift the patient fully if safe to do so. Once the patient is “raised” the Responder would complete another set of observations and if all is well; they would contact clinical hub again for further guidance and if all observations were safe and satisfactory, this could prevent an ambulance being required, which frees up resources to be ready for life-threatening emergencies.
Lee finished by explaining that Volunteer responders are in many Ambulance Service Trusts and any support people can give via Trust Charities would not only provide assistance to Responder departments, but patient care.
Basic First Aid, Really Does Save Lives!
Stronger Together
