Your first aid skills?

[Kzach]

Apart from the moral implications, it is actually considered a legal offense here to not give First Aid to someone in need (unless it would endanger yourself, and so on).

Most countries have good samaritan laws. It says a lot about us as a species that it has to be a law.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I've taken FC and Lifeguarding classes in my day...and have only had sporadic retraining classes, so my skills would be spotty.

I did, however, save one life: mine. I accidentally inhaled a marble in an empty room- DO NOT ASK (yes, I was doing something stupid, DUHHHH)- and since I couldn't Heimlich it out (I tried) or get help, My training up to that point gave me the presence of mind to do a headstand against the wall and bounce on my head until it dislodged. Probably the second closest to death I've ever been.

 

[Hand of Evil]

On the joking gaming side...

Oh...my level...I am taking your stuff

 

[El Mahdi]

I had Self Aid/Buddy Care in the military every 1 to 2 years. It covers rather in depth first aid including CPR, how to use those new defribelators that are popping up everywhere (though a trained monkey can follow the instructions on them), choking procedures, how to treat a collapsed lung (if the proper equipment is available), and even dealing with gun shot wounds and broken bones that puncture the skin. Over the course of my career I had this course well over a dozen times, so even though I haven't had a refresher for a few years, it's pretty much something I'll never forget.

Anybody with military experience, regardless of branch, probably has the same skills.

 

[Scott DeWar]

on chocking procedures: is the heimlicht manuver still a viable action to chocking?

 

[Umbran]

I'm another former Boy Scout, and hoo-boy, did we drill on first aid.

Yes, the Heimlich Manuver is still considered a viable option when someone is choking on a foreign object. Mind you, you still have to know how to do it correctly - specifically you have to know not to use it when the person can still cough or speak (their airway is only partially obstructed), and when they are having an attack of asthma, rather than choking on a foreign object.

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

I know how to call the ambulance!

You're a step ahead of me!

I voted too scared, but the reality is I get kinda dumbfounded in a crisis. My wife has to yell instructions at me sometimes when one of our boys is throwing up. I'd hate to think what I'd be like in an actual emergency.

Luckily for everyone I've been around in my 40 years, they've never had to learn what would occur if faced with me being the only person nearby to help them. I don't think I've even been present in a group when soemone nearby suffered through an emergency situation...

 

[Wik]

I'm a pretty high level first aider, and have actually been the head first aider at a few different jobs. Mostly, I've only had easy calls, although I was off duty a few times and had to use the skills to deal with injured drunks (two of the three times, I was pretty drunk myself, and sobered up INCREDIBLY fast when I had to maintain a C-spine!).

As for CPR, you do "compressions only" when there's a breathing obstruction. Otherwise, it's 30 and 2 - thirty compressions, followed by two quick breaths. It used to be 15 and 2, but it got changed a few years ago. Don't do the boy scout thing and check to see if they have a pulse - just keep compressing away until they Puke (which will happen, ha!), start breathing, or the parameds show up.

Oh, and Jon, don't worry about getting a BVM (bag valve mask). They're pretty useless unless you've got training in them. A CPR mask is more than enough... I have one that fits in my pocket.

 

[Thunderfoot]

BVM are awesome! (if you know how to use them.) They save a ton of time and energy. I disagree with the checking of the pulse, I have never met a professional who said 'pump til they puke'... (and that isn't necessarily going to happen, although I wouldn't bet against either.)

Frankly, it's too easy to check a pulse without losing position once you figure out you don't need two hands to check it. (i.e. the base hand in the compression never leaves the chest/pump position) I wear my watch face side down and can take a pulse and count respiration one-handed and do something else with the other. (like write down the vitals on my speed sheet or stay in position in my compression "stance")

Honestly though, if you are trained enough to know CPR, you are trained enough to teach two-person in a crisis, so it's really a moot point (assuming you aren't by yourself.)

Also, don't stop when the paramedics/EMTs show up, they'll usually take over, unless they see you are doing okay so they can do other stuff. (9 times out of 10, they will take over, but you never know).

My first three emergencies after getting certified, pedestrians hit by vehicles, and would you believe not one of them was "seriously" injured (other than obvious trauma and the lacerations that come with the territory.)

 

[Wik]

BVM are awesome! (if you know how to use them.) They save a ton of time and energy.

Absolutely. But the keyword is "if you know how to use them". Up here, in BC, only people who take heavy duty courses are trained in their use. I've worked plenty of jobs where I was the only person who was trained in using a BVM. I'd quietly train all of my other first aiders in their use on slow days.

But as part of a general use kit... I'd say they are overkill. In Jon's case, a simple face shield is more than enough - mine fits in my wallet, and I have a bigger one in my household kit, and a detachable one with a BVM that I always make sure I have in my oxygen kit.

I disagree with the checking of the pulse, I have never met a professional who said 'pump til they puke'... (and that isn't necessarily going to happen, although I wouldn't bet against either.)

Well, I was being a bit fast and loose. But the general rule is, don't check the pulse if you're by yourself doing compressions. You don't have the time for it, and it's very easy to be mistaken. A First Aider is not a paramedic or a superhero. So, the rule is, compress and breathe until a change of status (usually puking, coughing, spontaneous regaining of consciousness - yeah, right - or a change in a patient's GCS status).

Frankly, it's too easy to check a pulse without losing position once you figure out you don't need two hands to check it. (i.e. the base hand in the compression never leaves the chest/pump position)

Look, I don't want to be "that guy", but I'd seriously consider rethinking that policy.

Because once you start trying to do too much multi-tasking, you run the risk of endangering your patient. Taking a pulse is not really necessary if you're doing compressions, because you've already taken a pulse (and found none) when you started compressions. And if you THINK you feel a pulse while doing compressions (which may happen, since the whole point of CPR is to keep blood circulating), and then stop CPR, you're endangering your patient.

Taking a pulse during one person CPR is, almost always, a bad idea.

Honestly though, if you are trained enough to know CPR, you are trained enough to teach two-person in a crisis, so it's really a moot point (assuming you aren't by yourself.)

Correct. All of my quibbles above relate entirely to a single person CPR situation. Although, sometimes, the person you're worth isn't reliable enough to take over two person duties, in whicih case, you're boned.

By B.C. protocol up here, you technically shouldn't ever try to teach two person CPR on the scene, due to the potential for error. Not sure I agree with the rule, but there it is. I know I've trained a few First Aiders in how to use the BVM... but there are some I'd rather avoid putting in a CPR situation entirely.

Also, don't stop when the paramedics/EMTs show up, they'll usually take over, unless they see you are doing okay so they can do other stuff. (9 times out of 10, they will take over, but you never know).

Up here, at least, they have to take over by law. But yeah, you're right. I've heard a lto of Parameds complain about that - people stopping compressions and running up to the van the second the flashing lights arrive.

Here, a team is usually a paramedic with an EMT, and the EMT will take over compressions and see if you know two person (or can learn it real quickly) while the Paramed sets up an AED and maybe drops a line. I'm a level 3 OFA (about a week of training short of being an EMT), and Paramedics love me for it, because it means I'm legally allowed to continue assisting the Paramedics in the ambulance, which is always fun. I've had to do it twice, and both times, I was like a kid in a candy store.