Tag Archives: CPR

Posted in Roy on Rescue • CPR for Instructors • CPR for Providers

Watch A Real Cardiac Arrest and Survival! Plus Patient Interview Post Resuscitation.

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I wanted to share this video with you.  We know sudden cardiac arrest happens almost every 2 minutes to someone in the U.S. but we rarely get a chance to watch a real cardiac arrest occur, see the rescue caught on a security camera and then hear the patient talk about his experience so that everyone can learn from it.  If you or someone you know does not know how to provide CPR, please go to www.profirstaid.com and watch the free CPR training by clicking on the training video tab.  Or simply click here after  you watch the video below.

Posted in Roy on Rescue • AED • CPR for Instructors • CPR for Providers • Child Emergencies

Should CPR and AED’s Be Required In Schools?

Comments:2 Comments

Students Train Free!

Every couple of minutes, someone suffers sudden cardiac arrest.  95% of these victims are dead before they make it to the Emergency Room doors.  In North Carolina, the Governor is trying to change that statistic.  She’s signed a bill that requires all highschoolers to be CPR trained prior to receiving their diploma.    Is it a good or bad idea and why do you feel the way you do?
Keep in mind that ProTrainings.com has already implemented a program that offers CPR training and certification to all high school students for FREE! ProTrainings.com and the StudentsTrainFree.com program reported that over 3000 high schoolers this year alone have already been trained and certified. If you know of any school desiring to implement a similar program, please contact ProTrainings.com and ask for the Student CPR department.

Posted in Roy on Rescue • RoyOnRescue Personal Responses • CPR for Providers

Question: Why Dont We Check ABC’s Anymore?

Comments:1 Comment

In this blog,

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I answer a question that came in about why we don’t teach lay rescuers to check for pulses after AED shock. This student thought that we were trying to trick them but in reality, the new standards are what may be tricky. Here’s my answer, I hope it helps.

Hi Shelley,

Thank you for taking the time to comment about the training. I’m writing In regards to your question about AED use and then checking for “signs of life” vs checking for Airway, Breathing and Circulation. Id like to assure you that as wrong as it may seem to do CPR without checking for pulses first, the training you received from ProFirstAid.comis based upon the latest guidelines set forth by the American Heart Association and are correct.

The old standards were to shock with AED Training and then assess for Airway, Breathing and Circulation, if no pulse give CPR. The new standards have eliminated pulse checks for lay rescuers in order to simplify and hopefully reduce pulse check “mistakes”. This is designed to shorten time from arrival of help to first chest compression.

Now, if your feeling a little confused, don’t feel bad… many of us do when there are changes. Be assured that most people who are unconscious, not breathing normally and have received a shock are most probably in cardiac arrest and CPR is called for. Besides, studies show that chest compressions when not needed rarely ever cause severe harm. Better to error on the side if giving CPR.

This however, is the reason for change in training and per the AHA standards it is accurate.

I’d be happy to explain further and in more details if you like.

Best Wishes,

Roy Shaw, paramedic, instructor
ProTrainings.com

Posted in Roy on Rescue • Weather Related • Cold Related • Environmental • Dehydration • Outdoor Emergencies

Could You Survive Stranded In A Snow Storm?

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After hearing about a couple getting stranded in a mountain pass off-roading and the driver dying while seeking help, I thought I should talk about key elements around surviving out in the cold.  People are often overcome by the cold simply due to lack of pre-planning, proper equipment and an adequate plan for survival until rescue help arrives.  If you’ve ever wondered what you would do if you were lost, stranded or overcome by the winter elements, be sure to watch this episode of RoyOnRescue.
In the meantime, remember at least these important points:

1.   Let people know where you are going and what route you’ll be taking…then stick to it!
2.   Dress with layers of clothing or have extra clothing available
3.   Bring warming agents like hand and pocket warmers along with extra blankets
4.   Bring extra food that can handle getting cold or even freezing like granola, nuts etc.
5.   Eat snow for hydration
6.   Bring GPS
7.   Bring Flare Gun
8.   Never drive with low gas tank
9.   If the roads are dangerous, maybe stay home or extend your vacation
10. Repeat steps 1 thru 9

Peace,

Roy, RoyOnRescue.com

Posted in Roy on Rescue

What’s All The Fuss About The CPR Numbers?

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In this episode of RoyOnRescue we take a look at the different numbers related to CPR over the years. There can be confusion when it comes to deciding what set of numbers are best for the best outcome. Watch this episode to learn the scoop on how CPR numbers may not be as important as some may think they are.

Best Wishes,

RoyOnRescue Team

Posted in First Aid • Impaled Objects • Sprains • Trauma • Roy on Rescue

Ankles, Impaled Objects and CPR

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In this episode of RoyOnRescue, I answer two different emailed questions. The first from Michael who asked: “I was taught you remove the object only if it interferes with CPR.” Great question Mike. As a general rule of EMS, we only remove an impaled object if it’s obstructing the airway and preventing the ability to secure an airway. Removing an impaled object will often times “un-plug: the hole that was created by the injury and may cause excessive internal bleeding that can only be controlled in a surgical environment. As a lay rescuer, the Good Samaritan will follow the directions of the 911 dispatcher. In a worse case scenario, hands only CPR can still be performed. If the object is in the chest, try and work around the object as best as possible and provide what care you can without causing more harm. A second question came in just this afternoon from Sara who asks about an “ankle popping out” and what to do if this were to happen while on vacation. It sounds as though Sara may have a chronic problem with her knee or ankle but because of a recent injury is especially concerned that it could happen while on an exciting vacation this Friday. In both cases I hope that the advice I give helps and a little tidbit about the first aid acronym, RICES could be the solution while on vacation. Watch this episode to learn more about what to do in case either of these situations arise.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Roy, RoyOnRescue

Posted in Roy on Rescue

Can I Choke A Patient With A Pulse Check?

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In this video, Roy takes a moment to explain a training that he includes in his CPR videos where he checks for a carotid pulse on one side of the patients neck and then the other without moving from one side to the other physically.  Some students have asked if this is wrong, as they were taught to NEVER reach over the patients neck while checking a pulse. They were told that they could crush the patients trachea or even choke the patient! For Roy’s answer, you’ll want to watch this video.
Peace,
RoyOnRescue Team

Posted in Roy on Rescue

When I Was Doing CPR The Patient Began To Revive…But I Heard They Didn’t Make It. What Gives?

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I received a really good email from a rescuer who provided CPR to a person and before the emergency services arrived, the patient was exhibiting signs of revival.  Later, the rescuer discovered that the patient did not survive after all.  This person had a valid question about how or why this would happen and I wanted to include my reply so that it may help others who may in the future or  have already had the same experience.

Dear “Rescuer”,

There are so many reasons why a person may start to revive or does revive from initial cardiac arrest only to arrest again later and die. This fact that he later died should in no way be connected to your heroic actions you performed. By getting involved you increased his chance of survival by attempting to circulate some percentage of oxygenated blood to his vital organs in order to slow down the clinical to biological death process.

Of course, we never want to think that our rescue efforts will not change the end result. But in expressing compassion, you gave this individual one of the greatest gifts one can give, your care, compassion and your love for a fellow human.

Whomever that gentleman was, for a certain amount of time, you were able to give him the care he needed in order to have a chance to survive. Statistics and data show us this to be true. This does not mean however, that his condition would allow him to survive for the long term. The cardiac related disease that he may have suffered from chronically, the pulmonary embolism that may have occluded a vital vessel in the circulatory system or any other serious medical problem could have still determined that he was not going to survive his cardiac event.

Your efforts were completely successful because they did exactly what CPR is suppose to do… buy time! Be at peace knowing that you were successful in that you did buy him time and your efforts were not in vain. His last hours of life were spent knowing that someone he didn’t even know intimately cared enough to try and save his life. That’s an incredible gift to give someone.

I hope that this in some way can help bring you comfort.

Peace,

Roy

Posted in Preparedness • Roy on Rescue • Weather Related • Environmental

Hurricane Sandy Is In Full Force and Now I Need An Ambulance!

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Okay Rescuers,

When natural or unnatural disasters strike, the chance of getting emergency help to your doorstep fast while the EMS services are exhausted is very slim.  I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about a situation that doesn’t get discussed much.  What effect does a hurricane or natural disaster have on the rest of the community?  We sometimes forget the fact that though the rest of the world is distracted by a storm or other disaster related buzz, people still get sick, heart attacks still happen, car accidents still happen but we don’t often think about from where the next ambulance, fire truck or police car is going to be responding.  This episode of RoyOnRescue addresses this issue and urges people who may be in high risk of needing an ambulance or other EMS service to think proactively and make arrangements before the emergency happens.  Think about moving loved ones with fragile health to temporary locations that may not be effected by the hurricane.  Can the person stay with a relative until the community has recovered?  What is the back up plan if one can be found?  I hope this RoyOnRescue episode get’s everyone thinking and will hopefully help prevent a needless death due to not having the appropriate plans in place.  Stay safe, our prayers are with everyone who has been and is effected by hurricane Sandy and other storms.

 

Posted in Roy on Rescue

Neighborhood Heroes Making A Difference

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In this RoyOnRescue, we take a look at Stephen St. Bernard, who risked his own life to save another. He caught a young girl after she fell from a third story platform and though he suffered some injuries after the rescue, he saved the little girls life. This is an episode dedicated to the neighborhood heroes that get involved and make a difference. You won’t want to miss the live footage of this heroic event.  Thank you Stephen St. Bernard, for being a true hero.
Some have asked, how does catching a falling child compare to catching a weight at that velocity. A physicist has figured it out and states, “If she weighs 50 pounds, the man and ground must push up with an average of 12 times that force, or 600 pounds.”