UBUC

Basic Life Support

BLS sessions form a compulsory part of the course for Ocean and Sports Diver. More advanced refresher sessions for Dive Leaders and up will be run later in the year. It is strongly recommended that you attend, even if you have recent first aid training from one of the volountary agencies, since we use slightly different techniques to deal with the situations we are likely to come across as divers. (These techniques should complement rather than differ from the techniques you already know.)

Please turn up to these sessions promptly, since there is a lot of material to cover in a relatively short period of time. You are advised to wear old clothes, since there will be a lot of kneeling down, and lying on the floor playing dead! You might also like to brush your teeth beforehand...

If you join UBUC as a Trainee then the Training Officer will assign you to a CPR session at some point in the Autumn Term.

If you don't hear from them, or if you are unable to make your session for any reason, please inform the Training Officer.

Changes to CPR guidelines

In March 2006 the CPR guidelines were changed by the European Resuscitation council. In brief the changes were as follows;

 
Terminology

• CPR should be referred to as Basic life support
• AV should be referred to as rescue breathing

Guideline change

• Cardiac arrest is diagnosed if a casualty is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
• Rescuers should place their hands in the centre of the chest, rather thatn spend more time positioning their hands using other methods
• Each rescue breath is given over 1 sec rather than 2 sec
• Use a ratio of compresssions to Rescue breaths of 30:2 for all casualties.
• Once a casualty is on land, on diagnosing cardiac arrest
• Summon help, leaving the casualty if necessary
  • give 30 compressions immediately
  • follow this by 2 rescue breaths (Unless there are OBVIOUS signs of circulation)
  • give 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths
  • continue compressions and ventilation at 30:2 ratio

In-water life support changes

• The rescuers should be aware of their personal safety and minimise danger to themselves and casualty at all times.
• The casualty must be removed from the water by the fastest and safest means possible
• The rescuer must make a firm hold on the casualty and maintain this throughout the rescue
• The rescuer should make the casualty and themselves buoyant at the surface
• Open the casualty's airway by applying gentle neck extension
• If there is no spontaneous breathing on opening the airway in this way give rescue breaths for approximately 1 minute (10 Rescue breaths)
• If no spontaneous breathing returns, tow casualty while giving rescue breathing at 2 breaths/ 15 seconds
• When standing in standing depth, or at boat prior to landing, continue rescue breathing for 1 further minute (10 rescue breaths), then dekit and land as quickly as possible WITHOUT further rescue breathing
• Begin basic life support according to the above alogorithm i.e. 30 cardiac compressions initially, then two breaths

Guidelines taken from BSAC basic life support guidelines 2006

For full details and rationale for the changes see links below:

BSAC Basic Life Support Guidelines 2006

BSAC Basic Life Support Guidelines 2006: Rescue Skills Clarification