With the new year starting, another key skill that your team should have knowledge of is CPR. Nobody knows when this might be needed but by ensuring that your team has a basic knowledge of what to do could save a life! We are not doctors, but by having this key piece of knowledge of how to administer CPR could save a life or maintain the flow of oxygen until the professionals arrive.
Here are the basics for CPR as a refresher.
1. Make sure that the area around the casualty is safe.
2. Check for vital signs by tapping the casualty and asking if they are ok to check for signs of breathing and response.
3. If there is anyone else nearby, get them to call the emergency services immediately.
4. If there is no sign of breathing, it is vital to start CPR.
5. Feel for the casualty’s breastbone and place the heel of your hand on the middle of their chest and then put your other hand on top of the first. Interlock your fingers.
6. Keep your arms straight and lean over the casualty. Press down hard, to a depth of about 5-6cm before releasing the pressure, allowing the chest to come back up.
7. Repeat the compressions 30 times; at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.
8. After 30 compressions, you need to give two rescue breaths. To do this, open the airway by placing one hand on the forehead to tilt the head back and use two fingers from the other hand to lift the chin. Take the hand from the forehead and pinch the soft part of the nose closed. Allow the mouth to fall open. With the head still tilted, take a breath in and place your mouth over the casualty’s forming a seal. Blow into their mouth for one second, until the chest rises. Take your mouth away and watch the chest fall.
9. If you are not trained or do not feel comfortable performing rescue breaths, give continuous chest compressions.
10. Continue either performing 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths or continued compressions until the emergency services arrive.
This is just a refresher that we feel is important for all members of staff at your company to read. Maybe you should consider a more comprehensive safety course to start the year.
Written By: Matthew O’Hagan
