Resuscitation Changes (Questions Answered)

Q: Why is there new CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) guidance?
A: Every five years Resuscitation Council (UK) consolidates research and current practice. At the conclusion of this research they make recommendations, if needed, on how CPR and other techniques, can be more effectively used to help people whose heart or breathing has failed.

Q: What are the changes to CPR?
A: People who are not trained in CPR could be the difference between a life lost and a life saved by carrying out chest compressions on cardiac arrest victims.

They don't need to worry about doing mouth to mouth, but calling for help and doing chest compressions means that something is being done, rather than nothing, while waiting for the emergency services or an AED (automated external defibrillator) – a machine which may shock the heart back into a rhythm – to arrive. This gives victims a better chance of survival. Our step-by-step training demonstrates how to give chest compressions and use an AED.

For people who are trained, they should use rescue breaths, because this is still the best method for those who know what they are doing. We encourage everyone to try and get training www.actiontraining.co.uk to give those who require first aid the best chance to live.

Q: Why has this change been made?
A: 30,000 people have a cardiac arrest each year outside of a hospital and yet only one-third receive bystander CPR. Too many people die when first aid could have given them a chance to live.

By ensuring untrained bystanders call the emergency services and an AED and perform chest compressions mean more people will be given a chance to live. Something is better than nothing although for those who are trained, they should continue traditional CPR with rescue breaths.

Q: Won't people be confused by the changes when they have always been taught to do breaths as well as chest compressions?
A: If you have been trained to carry out rescue breaths then the advice is that you should do what you've been trained to do.

Q: Won't they become brain dead with no breaths?
A: In most cases the casualty still has oxygen in the lungs and blood, and chest compressions will keep oxygenated blood flowing to the brain, heart and other organs, for a limited time. The exceptions are when the victim has had breathing failure, eg. children, drowning when rescue breaths are required.

It is still better to be trained and carry out full CPR so you can be the difference between life and death but without training, chest compressions are better than nothing. Rescue breaths are especially important in children and victims of drowning.

Q: Do breaths cause damage?
A: Not at all and for people trained in how to carry out rescue breaths, this technique is the preferred method of choice.

Q: Why are people not want to do mouth-to-mouth?
A: Action Training Services believe that people are worried about giving a stranger rescue breaths, perhaps for fear of infection or because it's crossing a social barrier, but these new recommendations mean that people can feel empowered knowing that chest compressions only can help.

Q: Is this the only change?
A: People are being encouraged to ask bystanders to find a nearby AED as well as calling the emergency services. AEDs can safely be used by anyone without training, although this is encouraged.

Chest compressions are currently taught at a rate of 100 per minute but will be slightly faster at 100-120 per minute and approximately 1cm deeper at 5-6cm rather than 4-5cm.

Q: Is this RCUK advice something that Action Training Services approves of?
A: The RCUK sets the guidance for the UK and Action Training Services has always worked closely with the RCUK and other authoritative bodies.

Currently too many people are dying because not enough people know what to do.

Q: Are there any changes to AED protocols?
A: There are no changes to AED protocols.

There is strong evidence that early use of an AED on an unconscious casualty who isn’t breathing can save lives if their heart is in a certain rhythm. So the RCUK is saying that in an emergency situation anyone can use an AED effectively without prior training and it should be something people ask for at the same time as asking bystanders to call emergency services.




Important
The RCUK still encourages people to have training in the use of an AED as you don't want the first time that you use the machine to be in a stressful emergency situation. You will also need to know how to do CPR to use it effectively.

Q: If you haven't had training in AEDs how will you know what to do or if you’re doing it right?
A: AEDs are machines which analyse the heart and give a shock if one is needed to return it to a normal rhythm. They are easy to use and give you voice prompts to ensure that you don't shock someone who doesn't need a shock. As such, they are effective for people to use with no training, although we offer training if people would like it.

Q: Is what I did before wrong?A: No, the RCUK is saying that rescue breaths are the best method for people trained in them but if you haven't been trained have a go at compressions only

Q: Will they change again and if so when?
A: As all recommendations from the Resuscitation Council UK are based on research over a five year period, it is difficult to predict what breakthroughs may happen between now and 2015 so it may change again. The next announcement is expected in 2015.

Q: Do I need to book myself on a new first aid course?
A: You don't have to right now but as the HSE strongly recommends that all workplace first aiders and emergency first aiders attend annual skill refresher training.