How to Save a Life

Posted on August 4, 2024 by gutsandgrowth

From Caitlin Rivers Newsletter (Force of Infection):

Each year, I share a series of first aid videos to help remind everyone of these life-saving skills. I specifically chose these videos because they are only 2-5 minutes long, so you can get through the entire set on your coffee break. There are plenty of high-quality, longer tutorials on YouTube if you want a deeper dive. Either way, I hope you’ll find some time to review these important lessons.

(Also note that CPR and choking procedures are different for infants, so if you have babies in your life, please look up specific instructions for them!)

These videos are best as a refresher. If first aid skills are new to you, I recommend taking an in-person course. Most community centers offer classes for free or at a low cost. Don’t skimp on these valuable skills—they could make all the difference.

This post is public so feel free to share it.

Her newsletter allowed links by clicking image. To access the videos from this post, clink on the link rather than the image.

Link: Recognizing drowning

Link: CPR for adults and children + using an AED

Link: CPR 1-12 yrs of age

Link: How to Use an AED

Link: How to Stop Severe Bleeding

Link: Choking rescue

What a Natural Death Now Looks Like

Posted on August 13, 2016 by gutsandgrowth

N Gray. Ann Intern Med. 2016;165(3):W5. doi:10.7326/G16-0002

From Annals of Intern Med Twitter Feed:

My take: Heroic (and often futile) medical therapy is NOT limited to the elderly. Physicians are much more likely to choose a no code status if faced with a terminal illness. See related post:

“Do Unto Others” | gutsandgrowth

Mobile Technology Medicine Improves Bystander CPR

Posted on June 28, 2015 by gutsandgrowth

A recent study (Ringh M, et al. NEJM 2015; 372: 2316-25) shows that the ubiquitous nature of mobile phones/smartphones can lead to improved rates of bystander CPR.

The authors conducted a blinded, randomized controlled trial in Stockholm (2012-2013) using a mobile-phone positioning system. The intervention group had trained bystanders dispatched who were within 500 meters of individuals with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The control group received standard care. The primary outcome was bystander-initiated CPR before the arrival of ambulance, fire, and police services.

Key finding: With a network of 9828 trained volunteers, the intervention group had CRP initiated in 62% (188 of 305) compared with 48% for the control group (172 of 360)

The associated editorial (pg 2349-50) notes that in the U.S., every hour there are 38 people who have out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and fewer than 1 of 10 survive. They note they timely CPR improves survival rate. In a previous study, provision of CPR prior to EMS arrival increased survival from 4.0% to 10.5%. Besides technological limitations in the U.S., another potential barrier for trained bystanders would be allowing access to their location at all times and the “fear of being sued if they do not respond to a call.”

Bottomline: While there are barriers to be overcome, this is another example of reimagining the uses of new technology and developing a truly interconnected health network.

Dungeness, Cumberland Island

gutsandgrowth

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Tag Archives: CPR