CPR

T'other day i did a rescue diver course - apart from the hilarity of finding a geezer face down on the sea-bed at 10m and bringing chap to surface and towing to the beach while giving rescue-breaths - it was quite useful.

But of more immediate use I had to turn up with a recognised Primary and Secondary aid certificate. I think there are differences but my course was EFR (emergency first response) and focussed less on splints and slings and more on CPR and 02 administration.

So far so good. It is amusing however to note a few observations.

1) CPR almost never brings anyone back - you keep them stable until proper kit/people arrives
2) In excess of 85% of CPR simply does nothing except break a few ribs.
3) you should keep doing it until the pros arrive - unles you are qualified to pronounce death at the scene.

So why fucking bother?

Well - it might just save a life - truly it might - especially if it is a case of near-drowning or simple VF especially if there is an AED nearby.

Now to my point.

In my opinion the development of the Automatic External Defibrilator is a great leap forward, as is the insisitence of the elf an safety brigade to ensure that any public place capable of holding more than 50 people has at least one avaialble.

These are dead easy to use (they need an evening to learn) and will do pretty much all the paramedics can do. It reads and diagnosses heart rhythm, It administers shocks, fuck it even tells you what to do. The only drawback is the dear little toy shouts "clear" for you. Where is the fun in that? But you get to press a button, it big and red.

These devices save hundreds of lives every year. Literally.

They are also everywhere, Tesco, train stations, airports. Once you see one, you see em everyhere.

Have a look ...

This


So every now and then the government does something to help.

Oh and i was given a rhyme to get the timing right - it was "nellie the elephant" and we were advised sternly and soberly that singing it while administering compressions was likely to upset bystanders. No fun anymore eh?