Do you know how to do CPR ?

soulfull

soulfull

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 July 2007
Messages
6,506
Location
Staffs
Visit site
As a medic i was Just wondering how many do or don't know how to perform CPR. If yes do you also know how to use a defibrillator or do you know how simple they are to use?!

Another if yes how/where we're you taught ie work/club or tv!

Thanks
 
I know CPR as I had to do First Aid for a role I have in a youth group...

I know theoretically how to use a defibrillator because I understand principle, have read random instructions (and have a metaphorical PhD in medical dramas and Casino Royale :p ) but obviously no practical experience.
 
Taught in previous job (support worker) and current (in clinical trials). We have emergency scenarious frequently to make sure it's fresh and people do quality compressions etc.

Would be able to place defib pads in correct place but not permitted in my role to do much more re: defibrillating
 
Yes to CPR and defib. Used to work in neuro /trauma iTu. The only drawback with that sort of background is my first aid is a bit non existent but I think I know enough to keep someone going for a bit hopefully lol
 
yes and yes, although defibs are no longer provided and we wouldn't use them if they were.
Had to do a first aid and defib course through work
 
Yes to CPR
Yes to defib. The defibs these days talk you through it all. They're designed to be used by anyone with no training whatsoever. Shame they're not more widely available like they are in France where every town/village has one in an easily-accessible public location. 4 minutes is the threshold time for a critical heart attack patient. Hence the setting-up of volunteer first responders with defibs in villages, as no way is an ambulance gonna get from town to rural location in 4 minutes.
 
Yes, had training in both as part of getting myself insured to teach...a voluntary thing I put myself through the courses, but have been thinking of doing refreshers.
 
As I'm a fitness instructor I need a first aid cert and my current cert runs out in a year's time. So yes, I know how to do CPR, but my gripe (and every one else I've ever met on a first aid course) is that they keep changing it! The last time's change was actually one for the better as it made the process easier to remember, BUT it would be better by far if the International Council on Resusitation, or whatever they're called, decided on ONE definitive way to do CPR and stuck with that on a long term basis instead of keeping changing it. That just doesn't help people to remember it, and more importantly, is just confusing - i.e. you could have two people say trying to help a casualty and take it in turns to do CPR, and currently you could have two people who're each doing it a different way; as I understand that yet another method is being taught???

I was shown how to use a defib. once, but it was just the once, and I'm not sure I'd be confident to use it again.
 
They change it cos the evidence base changes all the time

I'm a doctor who is also a member of basics and yes I know bls and ALS and also have Certs in pre hospital trauma, atls and apls
 
Yes, I gave CPR to an 11 month baby that was drowning and wasn't breathing, and my late husband (outside work) gave CPR three times to various friends who had heart attacks.

They all survived thankfully. TBH, in an emergency, it comes pretty naturally.
 
Yes to both CPR and the defibrillator. I'm a dentist so we have to be up to date.

The defib is an odd one, we have to be trained each year how to use it but the machine is meant to be designed to be self explanatory so anyone can use it. Not sure therefore if you're allowed to use it if you haven't been trained specifically?
 
Yes to CPR, no to defib.

I learned through Scouts, Venture Scouts, being part of a lifeboat crew, and work. I've put it into effect once on the bus home from work, and about nine or ten times when on a lifeboat shout.

It's only been successful once. The rest of the time, I've been pretty sure going in that it wouldn't work, but we were expected to attempt to resuscitate anyway.
 
Pippity said:
It's only been successful once. The rest of the time, I've been pretty sure going in that it wouldn't work, but we were expected to attempt to resuscitate anyway.
Click to expand...

I was very grateful to the people who carried on trying to resuscitate my husband while waiting for an ambulance, in the ambulance and in A&E. They knew he'd gone but they still kept trying.
I will always be very grateful for that.
 
dingle12 said:
Yep to both done community first responder training.
Click to expand...

Excellent. Me too :)

cheeryplatypus said:
Yes to both CPR and the defibrillator. I'm a dentist so we have to be up to date.

The defib is an odd one, we have to be trained each year how to use it but the machine is meant to be designed to be self explanatory so anyone can use it. Not sure therefore if you're allowed to use it if you haven't been trained specifically?
Click to expand...

Yes ANYONE can use them!!!'. We have started training people to use them as we found that despite them being so simple people were still afraid of trying

Suechoccy said:
Yes to CPR
Yes to defib. The defibs these days talk you through it all. They're designed to be used by anyone with no training whatsoever. Shame they're not more widely available like they are in France where every town/village has one in an easily-accessible public location. 4 minutes is the threshold time for a critical heart attack patient. Hence the setting-up of volunteer first responders with defibs in villages, as no way is an ambulance gonna get from town to rural location in 4 minutes.
Click to expand...

Fabulous. That's what I was looking for when I asked if you knew how simple they are too use :)
There is a programme called 'heartstart' which our first responder group is part of where we are trying to put as many defibs out in the community as possible. Training is also provided although not needed

dogatemysalad said:
I was very grateful to the people who carried on trying to resuscitate my husband while waiting for an ambulance, in the ambulance and in A&E. They knew he'd gone but they still kept trying.
I will always be very grateful for that.
Click to expand...
So sorry for your loss. But nice to hear he had the best possible chance
 
dogatemysalad said:
I was very grateful to the people who carried on trying to resuscitate my husband while waiting for an ambulance, in the ambulance and in A&E. They knew he'd gone but they still kept trying.
I will always be very grateful for that.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear abut your husband. It's interesting though to hear how you felt about it. One attempt I was involved in was hopeless and I did wonder if it was worse for the family to see everyone trying, as physically its quite rough. I felt terrible about the whole event as you are led to believe from films, the media etc that it usually works, unfortunately it's a minority of cases that are successful :(
 
I did a first aid course at work some years ago, and although now well out dated, I'm sure what I learnt then re CPR, I can still do. I don't recall using a defib, so that's a no sadly. Lets keep hoping the need for either is not going to be needed. I also know how to resuscitate an infant. My son went blue when he was very tiny and the nurses taught me at the hospital when we were there. Never needed to do it - luckily.
 
Yes did a lot on a lifeguard course I did. Not been taught how to use a defib but they are self explanatory (as in they have instructions with them) and I believe they will not shock if its not needed so if there was one available then I'd put it on and let it decide if it was needed.
 
cheeryplatypus said:
Sorry to hear abut your husband. It's interesting though to hear how you felt about it. One attempt I was involved in was hopeless and I did wonder if it was worse for the family to see everyone trying, as physically its quite rough. I felt terrible about the whole event as you are led to believe from films, the media etc that it usually works, unfortunately it's a minority of cases that are successful :(
Click to expand...

I guess everyone is different, so perhaps not everyone feels the same, I don't know.

With my own experience, my husband and my attempts at CPR were successful, although these were occasions when an immediate response had a chance of success.

I've heard about campaigns to get Defibrillators out in the community which can only be a good thing. However, trained or not, having a go is better than standing back because of a lack of confidence.
 
Yes, for both adult and paeds, am a student nurse so we are updated every year.

The defibs are really easy to use now, most have a manual and automatic function, the automatic talks you through everything whereas the manual requires you to set the joules etc.
 
cheeryplatypus said:
I felt terrible about the whole event as you are led to believe from films, the media etc that it usually works, unfortunately it's a minority of cases that are successful :(
Click to expand...

I think that's half the issue with the idea of CPR and the general public. There needs to be more education regarding actually how unsuccessful CPR is the majority of the time. Not in the sense that it creates an issue of 'why bother if it's not going to work?' but more to remove the possible guilt that comes from 'you've done everything possible but...' and knowing that, whilst in the minority, it can make a difference and it's far better to do something than nothing.

Sorry about your husband dogatemysalad :(

I remember someone collapsing on the bus I was on one morning. Full of both school children and people going to work. I was the only one to raise my hand when the driver asked if anyone knew any first aid. I found that quite worrying!
 
I can. I am work first aider. I know I am incredibly unlikely to revive anyone with CPR, my role is to keep things going until proper medics arrive, no more.

Defibs I know are easy but I haven't used one. OH has them on the platforms and tells me they pretty much do it themselves these days!
 
Yes to both I am currently on duty as a community First responder I am however well aware that in the case of cardiac arrest only 1% survive without a defib and CPR or 3% with the defib and CPR so although they treble the chance of survival they do not give a guaranteed chance
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top