Ever have to use CPR? How did you perform?

[2 Bar]

I am heading into my Rescue Diver course and just finished my CPR / First Aid.

I am wondering if anyone trained in CPR / Rescue Breathing here actually had to use it? Since you don't practice it every day, how did you perform the first (or only) time? Did you remember every step in the correct order? Did you have to settle down first? How long did you give CPR /rescue breathing before being relieved by EMTs?

For that matter did you use your first aid training for a rather serious situation? Same questions.

Thanks

 

[cummings66]

I am heading into my Rescue Diver course and just finished my CPR / First Aid.
For that matter did you use your first aid training for a rather serious situation? Same questions.

Thanks

I used to be an instructor for the American Red Cross and taught those courses. In many years all I've ever been called on to do is standard first aid on a guy in a car accident. There was a huge amount of blood present, mostly coming from head wounds which bleed badly even on minor things.

I did not have to settle down, basically I drove up, parked the car hopped out accessed the situation and while giving first aid called EMS. I kept doing what I had o do until they arrived and then I went on my way after they took over. The sight of lots of blood on, under and around him did not bother me, nor did his appearance which was not good. I focused on the task at hand and that took enough effort that I had no time to think of myself and my feelings, I think having talked to students who've done major things that this is a common event. After the event you may suffer and there are courses for CISM that may help.

I would tell you is that each person is different. I've taught some people that I know would have jitters and others that were cold as ice. I don't know you, nor have I seen you in action so all I can say is that if in life you tend to be calm and collected no matter what you've run into, then you'll be fine here. The ARC has a cheat sheet you can get that outlines the steps briefly and could be used for review on site.

I would also say that as far as the FA/CPR goes, every time you certify you'll remember more and do better until you can do it with your eyes shut. I personally would recertify CPR and first aid every year even though it's not required for both to be done that way.

I haven't taught in 3 years now and would feel comfortable rendering aid, it's not rocket science and they claim that even incorrectly performed it's better than not done at all. In real life you may hear all kinds of sounds when you do cpr that sounds like you're breaking bones, and in some older people you just might be. But remember the outcome and continue until you can't, or EMS arrives and takes over.

This is all based on what the ARC taught me, there are other organizations out there that do the same courses and have differing ideas as to how best render CPR.

 

[cavedivingwoman]

Recently I responded to a distress call on a boat--"diver unconscious at the surface." He was aboard the inflatable by the time our boat arrived.

I gave him two person basic life support as we sped to the marina. Unfortunately he did not survive. Tha paramedics worked on him, as did the hospital staff.

I was able to do this primarily because I'm a former ICU RN who once ran emergencies for a living. I haven't done CPR for many years but having done it many times on people helped immensely. It was the first time I've ever done mouth-to-mouth breathing (hospitals have ambu bags/masks).

Rescue Diver is the most important course you'll take in recreational diving. It's important to remember though that if you attempt to rescue someone who does not survive, all you can do is your best. It was very difficult for me because this diver could have been any of us.

Still, I'd do the same again.

Best,
Barbara/cavedivingwoman

I am heading into my Rescue Diver course and just finished my CPR / First Aid.

I am wondering if anyone trained in CPR / Rescue Breathing here actually had to use it? Since you don't practice it every day, how did you perform the first (or only) time? Did you remember every step in the correct order? Did you have to settle down first? How long did you give CPR /rescue breathing before being relieved by EMTs?

For that matter did you use your first aid training for a rather serious situation? Same questions.

Thanks

 

[Iruka]

I was guiding on a boat, when an unconscious diver from another boat was brought to the surface near our boat. Since our boat was closest, he was pulled aboard. He had a purple face, no pulse, and a lot of bloody froth in his mouth. Two of us (the other guy, by the way, contributes to this board fairly often) combined on CPR & rescue breathing. To tell the truth, my initial thoughts were basically "this guy's already dead, this isn't going to work, I'll probably be upset by it tomorrow, but I'd better just keep at it until someone tells me to quit." Anyhow, after 5 or 10 minutes, the guy started breathing again, and we kept him on 02 until we reached the navy dock, where we were met by paramedics (if that's the correct term for people in ambulances?)

Footnote: turned out (as I heard it) the guy had suffered a stroke while diving, and had been on medications which precluded diving, but didn't disclose it on the waiver. He left the hospital in a few days. Here's the "funny" part....after doing the CPR, neither of us heard from him again, but I was told he complained to the dive shop, because his mask & knife were lost during the rescue. Ummm....I think there were more pressing concerns at the time, ha ha. Anyhow, having a stroke, getting CPR & leaving the hospital in a couple days doesn't sound that plausible to me, but that's what I was told.

 

[WellBelowH2O]

Here's the "funny" part....after doing the CPR, neither of us heard from him again, but I was told he complained to the dive shop, because his mask & knife were lost during the rescue. Ummm....I think there were more pressing concerns at the time, ha ha.

Perhaps the stroke affected the part of his brain that controls logic and reasoning. He's lucky to have survived and lucky you were there to help him.

 

[nitroxbabe]

I had to perform CPR once recently on a drowned diver. I was extremely upset, to say the least, but when it came right down to it we all did the right things in the right order. I didn't really have a chance to "settle down", I just started rescue breathing for him because I was the closest person at the time. Everyone on the boat took turns with the efforts, but he did not survive.

I sure wish my story had an ending more like Iruka's.

 

[Drew Sailbum]

I have never had cause to perform CPR in a diving situation, but have done so 3 times in other circumstances.

In one instance, a 7 year old boy was pulled from a house fire. I began CPR which continued until EMS arrived. I was later told that he survived.

I performed CPR on a woman who suffered severe carbon monoxide poisoning. She did not survive.

I also stopped roadside when a vehicle in front of me veered off the interstate south of Indianapolis. I'd guess the man was in his 50's, and I'd guess he had a heart attack based upon the circumstances (age, weight, smoking, etc...). I never found out what happened there, but I wasn't optimistic.

I think it is important to have realistic expectations. I think of these efforts as possibly saving a life. If nothing is done, I know that the patient is dead.

 

[Toolbox-13]

I had to do resue breathing for a boy who sucked in a lung full of water while I was a life guard in Japan....I saw him playing at the pool drain and drug him to the surface and gave him a few breaths and he caughed out the water.
My daughter was premature and was on a infant monitor and had to react when she stopped breathing 3 times before she outgrew that it was a tense time for the first 18 months of her life, but she is a wonderful 16 year old now...

 

[ch0ppersrule]

Did CPR 14 months ago and remember it like it was yesterday. Adrenaline kicks in and things just don't seem real at the time. The guy I performed on drown at a lagoon (we were just about to leave). It was not a diving accident. There were a couple of us that continued CPR until the EMT's showed up, but I was the first to start. I remember the man's name and age and everything about his family, in which I had never met until that time. Al- did not make it. I think he either had a stroke or massive heart attack. It is a very emotional time and I still get weepy eyed when I think about it. Glad I did the Rescue/ first responder class.

Melissa

 

[medic001918]

I've done CPR more times than I care to remember, but it's always been in the line of work. Being a paramedic kind of forces me to do those kinds of things, so it doesn't typically bother me to do it. If you're not accustomed to it, I could see it bothering you. And if it does bother you for any period of time, I recommend talking to someone.
And FYI, some people are just unthankful and don't realize how lucky they are. Only about 5% of cardiac arrests make it to walk out of the hospital. So if you did CPR on someone and they were one of those, they're very lucky and congratulations on a job well done.
Shane