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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1979-09-12, Page 30" lb* or t9wV c~ tad ntlt Dia o's 4* ea ' CHECKS POSITION — Kevin Glasgow looks at the computer dial to make certain he isn't drawing any red lights as he positions his hands on Resusci Annie to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Instructor Jim Hoffman and another CPR student, Terry Wilhelm, look on. NOT TOO MUCH — Instructress Dee Beuerman watches as rec administrator Ian Smith practices his life support skills on Resusci Baby. Staff photo wr SWIMMING POOL SALE Inground Pools Completely Installed Starting at: $1982® Phone 6524203 or 432-8876 Forest City Swimming Pools Ltd., London A LOAN FOR ALL REASONS There are any number of good reasons to borrow; purchasing, refinancing, renovations, vacations ... tell us your plans, and we will not only arrange for the money but recommend terms to suit your budget. VICTORIA AND GREY TRUST Since1841 VG Contact our office: 425 Main Street Exeter 235.0530 ELDER ENTERPRISES SALES & SERVICE DIAL 262-6142 HENSALL - ONT It• Your authorized fall service dealer 1 mile west and 1 mile south of Mensal' YAMAHA Page 14A Times-Advocate, September 12, 1979 a course that makes life savers ALL CHOKED UP — Jean Palframan demonstrates the un- iversal choking sign, while Laurie Bisback positions her hands and prepares for an abdomen thrust that would hopefully dislodge the foreign material. Staff photo GEE, MOM I PASSED — Just about anyone can pass a CPR test according to the local instructors and the point was well proven when they bestowed a certificate on the editor, shown here working on Resusci Annie. SCOTT'S LEATHER & TACK SHOP 120 Sanders St. W. Exeter, Ont. Phone 235-0694 Complete Line of Western Saddlery, Bridles, Halters, Bits, Pads, Girths. HORSE HEALTH CENTRE Fly Wipe, Shampoo, Absorbine, Etc. Lee Jeans & Jackets Western Boots, Hats, Belts & Shirts Hand Crafted Leather Goods ONTARI TELEPHONE SERVICE COMMISSION Ontario IN THE MATTER of section 105 of The Telephone Act (R.S.O. 1970, c. 457), AND IN THE MATTER of an Application by the Hay Municipal Telephone System for approval of changes in telephone rates. NOTICE OF HEARING The Commission will consider this Application at a public hearing to be held in the Township Hall, Zurich, Ontario, on September 27, 1979, commencing at 7:30 p.m. Persons wishing to make representation or submissions to the Commission with respect to this Application may do so at this hearing. If your do not attend or are not represented at this hearing, the Commis- sion may proceed in your abscence and you will not be entitled to any further notice of the proceedings. Dated at Downsview, Ontario, this 6th day of September, 1979. Secretary/Registrar Ontario Telephone Service Commission Suite 200 3625 Dufferin Street Downsview, Ontario M3K 1Z2 CPR By BILL BATTEN "This is going to be a fun course...relax and enjoy it." Those were the words of Dee Beuerman as she ad- dressed the six people sitting in the board room at South Huron Hospital who were about to commence on a day- long course to master Cardiopulmonary Resus- citation (CPR). Joining the writer were student Kevin Glasgow, rec administrator Ian Smith, teacher Terry Wilhelm and two nurses, Laurie Bisback and Jean Palframan. Co-instructor Jim Hoff- man soon joined the group, and there were two special "people" in attendance who would become the real stars -of the show...Resusci-Annie and Resusci-Baby, Dee outlined the aims and objectives of the course which is conducted through the Ontario Heart Foun- dation. In the next few hours we would have to complete a 50-question quiz (requiring an 85 percent mark to pass), and successfully prove our skills of how to administer assistance to an adult and infant with partial and complete airway ob- struction, as well as providing CPR for both an infant and adult, both in a one-man and two-man rescue situation, She and Jim outlined many statistics to indicate that CPR training can save many lives. While Canadian figures are not available, there are 650,000 heart at- tack deaths annually in the U.S. and another 2,900 deaths attributable to choking. Many of those deaths are needless and 60 percent occur before the victim reaches hospital. One of the major reasons for many of those deaths being classified as needless is the fact that if people at the scene knew CPR they could save many victims by providing the necessary life support techniques until more advanced medical aid could be provided. The victim of cardiac arrest (through heart attack, choking, electrocution, drowning, etc.) usually suffers irreversible brain damage within four to six minutes after breathing and the heart have stopped. If artificial ventilation and circulation can be im- plemented within that time, the victim has a chance of being saved. CPR, where used in hospitals, has resulted in the death rate of cardiac arrest victims being reduced from 50 percent to 15 percent. After detailing the techniques we were to learn (using hubby Larry as a victim for the choking demonstration) Dee went through the important factors of the course, reviewing the pre-course material with which each of us had been provided. Then it was time for the written test and we were handed the 50-question multiple choice test. It was the first test the writer has tackled for a number of years and we lived again the tension that arises when you first glance through the questions and start worrying about whether you can complete it successfully. The palms of the hand get a little sweaty and there is the sinking feeling of hitting a question for which you are not certain of the answer. After checking through again, we gingerly handed the sheet to the instructors for marking, watching anxiously as they checked the correct answers and frowned as they hit an in- correct one. However, the worry was needless, We passed with flying colours, missing out on only two of the correct answers. After a break for lunch, it was on to the practical portion of the course, where we were teaming up with classmates to practice the obstructed airway techniques. We drew Ian for that portion, although Dee started us off by being the victim for the writer, who gingerly (but pleasantly) Mr. and Mrs. Dave Spencer, Mrs. Annie Youngson, St. Marys Mrs. Gertie Thomson of the 8th line of Blanshard visited with Mrs. Mary Thomson Andrew Street, Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Cottle and Mr. and Mrs. William Green were guests at the llarris-Sedden wedding at Avondale United Church, Stratford and also the reception at 0Sgoode Hall Stratford, Saturday. tackled the chest hold. For a partial airway ob- struction, the rescuer does nothing except provide confidence for the victim. He should be allowed to attempt to disgorge the foreign material by himself if he can still muster a cough and some speech, albeit with some difficulty. The universal sign given by a choking victim, is the grasping of the hands to the neck. If the victim is unable to cough or speak, the rescuer moves to the rear and ad- ministers four back blows, followed by four abdominal thrusts. The latter is ac- complished by forcing a fist into the abdomen between the breastbone and navel, This sequence is repeated until the choking material is dislodged completely or enough for the victim to attempt to get it out the rest of the way by himself. If it is not successful and total blockage is present, the victim will fall into un- consciousness. He is then lowered to the floor, where the back blows are repeated, and then four chest thrusts are im- plemented. This is repeated as necessary. If cardiac arrest ensues, the CPR technique is employed. If you have any difficulty understanding how the abdominal thrusts may dislodge a foreign material you can take the writer's word for it that even with a small amount of pressure, there is a strong force that is pushed up through the chest. I can only imagine what would happen under full pressure and there have been cases where people undertaking the course have lost their meals due to an over-zealous rescue demonstration, It should be noted here that all the techniques when employed on classroom victims are basically mute only in order to prevent any injury. The techniques are never used on a person because they could cause cardiac arrest or bodily damage. Injury is not uncommon for an actual victim either, of course, but the alternative is death and a few broken ribs is naturally considered less serious than that. Completing successfully our obstructed airway technique, Ian and I moved on to the Resusci-Baby, where we had to learn the obstructed airway technique as well as CPR, The difference of course is in the physical makeup of an infant or small child. The thrusts have to be lessened considerably and the breathing is also reduced "so you don't blow the lungs down into the diaper" ac- cording to Jim and Dee. Having mastered that technique, it was on to the major test of the day...turning out a tape on Resusci-Annie, Annie is a life-sized mannequin, fitted out with a computer which records the strength and duration of artificial ventilation (breathing) and artificial circulation. One improper hand position results in a red light that is an automatic failure. To pass the course, a rescuer must complete a four-cycle ventilation and circulation strip. The first responsibility to the victim, is to test for unresponsiveness. This is done by shaking the shoulders, shouting and otherwise attempting to determine if the victim is conscious or not. If the victim is un- conscious the airway is opened by tilting back the head. This is often enough to revive an unconscious person, The rescuer then looks for a sign of a heart beat or breathing in the chest area and holds his cheek and ear near the nose and mouth area for physical evidence of breathing, Ifnone is evident,four quick breaths are forced into the victim (ramp breathing) and then the rescuer attempts to find out if there is a pulse by checking the carotid pulse at the neck. Rescuers take seven to 10 seconds to check this, as it is a must that there be no pulse evident before you start working on the chest. If no pulse is evident, CPR is initiated. This involves placing the hands on the lower half of the sternum and giving 15 vertical compressions that simulate circulation. The com- pression is one and a half to two inches for an adult, Fifteen compressions are given and then two ven- tilations and then back to another 15 chest com- pressions. This sequence must oe done four times with only a 15 percent error margin. The error may include a ventilation that is not quite heavy enough or too heavy, a chest compression that may be of a slight in- correct pressure, as well as some error in timing bet- ween ventilation and cir- culation. It looks easy watching Dee and Jim perform the technique, but it was soon evident to the six students that it was something which would require considerable practice. Everyone took turns putting out tapes and Laurie managed to win the side bet that went to the first in the class to present a passable tape. Oddly enough, the writer ended up passing, although we left a good chunk of skin on Annie's chest before we managed to get the technique down to an ac- ceptable level. While I had been given advance notice of the physical strain the course would have on my knees, lips and hands, I can report that other than a giant blister, work could be tackled the next morning. I have no hesitancy in encouraging any area resident to enrol in a course by calling either Jim or Dee. There was a deep sense of satisfaction in walking out of the hospital with a cer- tificate, and while I hope never to have to use the course, there is a strong feeling of confidence that I could now help out in an emergency situation, What bothers me most is the fact I happen to be a high risk person for cardiac arrest. There is some heredity factor involved for heart attack, I am a little over-weight, smoke too much, am, presently under considerable stress, don't get enough exercise, am careless about my bachelor diet, am a male and between the ages of 35 and 55. That all adds up to a high risk and I happen to knoW that I am not that abnormal in comparison to many of my readers. The point is...I can now help you. Won't you take the time to pass a short course that will enable you to help me if the situation arises? 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