Took AED / CPR certification class

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Finally did my CPR class. I remember I worked as a student aide one time and had avoided getting certified because I was intimidated by the process even though that is what I had told them that’s what I had set time to do. I had budgeted time, got time off of work at this previous work place and listened to the whole lecture at the whole high school but when it was ready to get certified I was scared and didn’t feel I was ready. Maybe it was just the way it was presented or I was young at the time. I was in my mid-twenties at the time but now am quite a few years older. Today, I got a AED/CPR booklet and a student medical training kit supply, more information on a video training video, I also got a gauze wrap wrapped by someone and a CPR / AED certification for 2 years. I am impressed at the depth and breadth of information offered in the class. They also talked about Narcan. Class started with introductions by the instruction and anecdotes and then a training video and then we also passed around props and videos and training pictures.

They talked about things that can cause your heart to have ventricular fibrillation or V fib. Things such as getting hit with a ball in the chest, drug overdose such as from too much caffeine from energy drinks were examples. We talked about Narcan which is administered through the nose, and that it’s not adrenaline-based while some asthma or other things are adrenaline based (unrelated to Narcan also known as Naxolone). They talked about how these drug antidotes break the chain link to the brain. They said these drug addictions don’t discriminate based on race or age or social class and that you might find it in family or friends and people on Facebook. Said she recognized someone shaky and having spots all over their face, picking and scratching at themselves and seemed like that person on was doing Meth.

The instructor also mentioned some germs were resistant to alcohol based hand sanitizers like Norovirus due to thickness of their protein structure and if you touch your eye you’ll infect yourself. We talked about washing hands after using hand sanitizers.

We talked about not abandoning your victim, not accepting compensation for your assistance in helping someone such as doing CPR on them. Do not leave till you are sure someone is there to help that’s equally or greater qualified.

We talked about how someone got sewage on themselves at work. They had a chemical shower and it was at the end of the day at work but had they reported it they could have gotten a shot and avoided some of the symptoms. They talked about how some germs and viruses survive as long as they are body temperature like Hepatitis B and HIV.

They said that the procedure is to call guards and then 911 if needed.

They said the attack or stroke symptoms of numb left arm or tingly and sweating is sort of like your hear working harder and sweating like during exercise. Denial is also a classic symptom.

Steps to helping in CPR:

• Is the scene safe (there may be blood, electricity, slip & trip & fall hazards, chemicals).
• Tap between the shoulder and chest but not shake the person and ask if they are okay.
• Tell someone nearby and be specific who by name or description (you in the blue tie) to do an action: Go call the guards and tell them we have a medical emergency, get the first aid kit and AED
• Check breathing which is countable and see if anyone else is already aware of the condition or symptoms such as being diabetic.
• Check for bleeding or deformations in limps or femoral bleeding
• Check compressions 30 with 2 inch depth at 100 to 120 per minute. Don’t lean.
• Tilt head back and check air passageway
• Clear any obstruction (use pinky for kids)
• 2 breaths with 1 second pause
• Continue chest compressions
• Have someone apply AED and have it determine if defibrillation necessary. May need to shave chest with razor to properly have contact.
• Remove metal jewelry but leave nipple rings or other metal if not within 1 inch of the metallic AED pads. Keep AED pads away from chemo ports.
• Clear the space if it says it will deliver shock
• Also get person to watch the area

The general idea is Pump a Lot but Puff a Little. This is because too much air goes to lungs and stomach and can cause vomiting maybe.

If you are diabetic they can swish sugar based food or drink in mouth. Will deliver it faster than eating. Will usually be shaky when low sugar.

Dead is still dead so it’s better to try to act to prevent someone from dying and doing what you can than to do nothing was the view of the instructor.

Stroke symptoms: FAST – Face Droop, Arm Drift, Speech Difficulty, Time to Activate EMS

Need chemical busting drugs to clear arteries.

Don’t give people in shock or stroke food or drink even if they ask.
STRoke – Smile, talk, raise arms impaired

Control bleeding with a tourniquet. Used to be people were overdoing it with tourniquet and due to Boston Marathon and First responders, EMTS, military they put back into first aid class.

Don’t take off tourniquet after it is put on.
Put a marker and write the time it was put on the person’s arm or forehead.

Don’t give them anything to drink

Tourniquet sometimes uses a stick to wrap and tighten.
Hemostatic dressing is used to stuff wounds.

Traumatic events to first responders can be especially stressful and cause PTSD or need mental counseling.

Sick to stomach, nauseous, nightmares, replaying it over and over, thinking more can be done.