USI and NSW Police

Vital First Aid Training Services

Vital First Aid has been granted special exemption from needing to supply USI or AVETMISS information for NSW Police.

First Aid Kits At Work

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Are you in charge of checking and maintaining first aid kits at work?

Same money and time with some simple methods.

Its a frustrating but essential job that can be made easier by doing some simple things.

Label or tag the kit with something that will alert you to the fact that someone has opened the kit – this will let you know that you need to check it. You can even label it with the expiry dates – this way if the tag/label is still in place you know that you don’t need to check the kit.

Bandaids ( fabric strips )  are the most common item used in a first aid kit. Put a packet beside the kit and encourage staff to use these rather than opening the kit. Combine this with the label system and you will save money and time

Diabetic Emergency Management

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The guidelines have changed to encourage the use of a blood glucometer to check the patients blood sugar levels prior to any treatment – this is only if you are trained in the use of these devices. It is not expected that a first aider will carry a blood glucometer.

How to Manage a Diabetic Emergency without a Blood Glucometer

If you don’t have a blood glucometer then follow the patients management plan or the accepted general management of a diabetic emergency:
Conscious – 4-5 x 4gm glucose tablets or sugar sweetened drink
Unconscious – manage as per unconscious patient and give no food or drink

The Australian and New Zealand Resuscitation Committee on Resuscitation (ANZCOR) make the following recommendations:

  • When available, and trained to do so, use a blood glucometer to check the victim’s blood glucose level
  • When available, glucose tablets are preferred over other sugars for the first aid management of suspected hypoglycaemia in conscious victims
  • When available, and trained to do so, family members and carers use a GlucaGen® HypoKit® glucagon injection to manage suspected hypoglycaemia in an unconscious or seizing victim

If a person with diabetes has a diabetes management plan then that plan should be followed. If a person with diabetes reports low blood glucose or exhibits symptoms or signs of hypoglycaemia:

  • Stop any exercise, rest and reassure;
  • If the victim is able to follow simple commands and swallow safely, we recommend that first aid providers administer 15-20 grams glucose tablets (4 – 5 x 4 gram glucose tablets) for treatment of symptomatic hypoglycemia
  •  If glucose tablets are not available, we suggest administering confectionary including:
    • Jelly beans (5-20 beans depending on the brand)Skittles® (20-25 candies)
    • Mentos® (5-10 mints),
    • Sugary drinks or sugar-sweetened beverages (approx. 200 mL), but DO NOT administer ‘diet’ or ‘Low-cal’ or ‘zero’ or ‘sugar free’ beverages;
    • Fruit juices (approx. 200 mL);
    • Honey or sugar (3 teaspoons);
    • Glucose gels (15 g of glucose gel); and
    • Monitor for improvement – resolution of symptoms would be expected within 15 minutes.

If symptoms or signs of hypoglycemia persist after 10-15 minutes, and the victim is still able to follow simple commands and swallow safely, administer a further 4 x 4g glucose tablets or alternatives as listed above. Once recovered, give a snack with longer acting carbohydrate, for example: 1 slice of bread OR 1 glass of milk OR 1 piece of fruit OR 2-3 pieces of dried fruit   OR 1 snack size tub of yoghurt (not diet or ‘sugar free’ yogurt). If it is a usual meal time, then eat that meal.

If the victim deteriorates, does not improve with treatment, is seizing or is unconscious, call for an ambulance.

    • If the victim is unresponsive and not breathing normally, commence resuscitation
    • If the victim is unconscious but breathing, lie the victim on their side and ensure the airway is clear

Asthma and Spacer Use

Inhaler graphic

The use of a spacer, especially in an acute asthma attack, is essential. We could present countless articles showing facts about the benefits of using a spacer OR show one picture. Please be sure to always carry your Ventolin and a spacer.

Cardiac Arrest Survivor after attending Vital First Aid Course

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Susanna attended a Vital First Aid course earlier this year, which she does with us regularly. When she got home she discussed “whats new” in CPR with her husband. Less than a month later her life depended on the skills and knowledge she gave to her husband……. he found her in cardiac arrest on the kitchen floor, he started CPR and continued until the ambulance arrived. Susanna’s life was saved by the CPR training she obtained. Learning to save lives is Vital – Vital First Aid

EpiPen Changes

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The method of administering the EpiPen has recently changed. You should only hold the pen in place for 3 secs following injection instead of the previously described 10 secs and they also now recommend not to massage the injection site. Remember when using the EpiPen to hold onto it firmly……..

RACGP CPR training activity

Vital First Aid Training Services

Vital First Aid is accredited to delivery CPR training for the RACGP. This course will attract 5 points as an Accredited Activity. Additional fees will be incurred for this service. Please contact the office for details. Bookings made directly thru our on-line booking system may not be able to have CPR awarded….   $15 administration fee is payable in addition to the course fee of $50 for this.

Sports Trainer LEVEL 3 – Vital First Aid leading Sports Trainer education in Australia

Vital First Aid Training Services

Vital First Aid is leading Sports Trainer education in Australia by being the FIRST organisation to deliver the converted LEVEL 3 Sports Trainer course.

This course provides a balance of extended medical skills as well ensuring these skills can be used outside of the sporting industry.

The course includes several units of competency as well as extensive use of scenarios to ensure the highest level of knowledge and skills are achieved. Units of competency issued include:

  1. HLTAID006 Provide Advanced First Aid
  2. HLTAID007 Provide Advanced Resuscitation
  3. HLTAID008 Manage first aid resources and services – Occupational First Aid
  4. PUAEME004A Provide emergency care for suspected spinal injuries
  5. PUAEME005A Provide Pain Management

This course is revolutionising the Sports Trainer field in Australia by lifting the standard to a very high level ensuring our sports men and women are cared for at the highest level

CPR – Breathing?

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There is a lot of uncertainty regarding the criteria for Rescue Breaths while performing CPR.

Even some well known training organisations are miss-interpreting the guidelines both here in Australia and internationally. This just leads to confusion in a field of pre-hospital care that is already filled with miss-information and poor education from “experts” that have never even seen a real cardiac arrest or take it on their own back to change guidelines and recommendations set down by governing bodies.

” Anything is better than nothing” when it comes to CPR, but here are the facts…..

Lets become consistent with our education on CPR and follow internationally accepted guidelines not individual opinions

Rescue Breaths Here in Australia:

When it comes to the question of Rescue Breaths I suggest you follow the guidelines set down by the Australian Resuscitation Council.

ANZCOR suggests that those who are trained and willing to give breaths do so for all persons who are unresponsive and not breathing normally

So in Australia we DO GIVE RESCUE BREATHS if trained and willing.

Rescue Breaths in America:

Many Australian first aid trainers say that “in America they don’t do rescue breaths “. well here is the actual guideline described by the American Heart Association (Our equivalent to the Australian Rescue Council)

Untrained lay rescuers should provide compression-only (Hands-Only) CPR, with or without dispatcher guidance, for adult victims of cardiac arrest. The rescuer should continue compression-only CPR until the arrival of an AED or rescuers with additional training. All lay rescuers should, at a minimum, provide chest compressions for victims of cardiac arrest. In addition, if the trained lay rescuer is able to perform rescue breaths, he or she should add rescue breaths in a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths. The rescuer should continue CPR until an AED arrives and is ready for use, EMS providers take over care of the victim, or the victim starts to move.

So even in America they suggest that people trained in first aid and rescue breaths should give them. Clearly showing that it is also their understanding that breathing for a patient is important.

Rescue Breaths in Europe:

The immediate initiation of CPR can double or quadruple survival from cardiac arrest. 20,24–28 If able, bystanders with CPR training should give chest compressions together with ventilations

Rescue Breaths Summary

Of the 3 main expert resuscitation organisation internationally, ALL say the same thing. If you are trained in giving rescue breaths then YOU SHOULD GIVE RESCUE BREATHS.

Performing CPR on a patient in cardiac arrest is so so so important. If first aider’s become confused they are less likely to perform CPR – Let’s take out the confusion and follow consistent internally recognised standards.