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Liz Cantor

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DR ABCD

I just completed my Senior First Aid with Red Cross and it’s a course every good Aussie should do! Actually… I think it should be a mandatory course for year 12 students in all schools! The fact is that knowing how to perform CPR could save someone’s life and as much as we see it displayed in dramatic circumstances on our TV screens, having the opportunity to practice the correct technique is a must!

Currently it’s 2 breaths to every 30 compressions – which is very different to previous teachings. Think two hands for an adult. One hand for a child. Two fingers for an infant.

If you’re interested… Red Cross offers a detailed online module, which is then followed with a refresher day, where you perform hands on skills and role play with a paramedic.

Something I found really interesting was the current recommendation for treating a snake bite – rest and reassure the patient and keep them immobile, call 000! DO NOT wash the area (as the poison around the bite can be used to identify the type of snake) DO NOT raise the injured limb. Bandage firmly, initially cover the bite site… then (here’s something different) they recommend bandaging UP the limb. When I was younger I was always taught to bandage down from the bite; but these days after applying a pressure bandage to the wound, the correct technique is to bandage up the body to stop the flow into the lymphatic drainage.

As I’m always in the ocean I thought I’d share two other tips with you:

warm water for bluebottle stings
vinegar for tropical jelly fish stings.

Think DR ABCD – Danger ?, Response ?, Airways ?, Breath - Compressions (2:30), Defibrillator (the technology for these is incredible they will talk you through what to do!).

Now I confidently feel that when I’m out in my SES uniform I now have an understanding of emergency first aid procedures, a theoretical knowledge about performing CPR, and an understanding of how to recognise and respond to a range of specific injuries and illnesses.

And I’m going to end all my blogs with a quote, this month’s - “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be”!