First aid in the training environment

As a trainer you are often the closest when something acute happens — from someone fainting to an actual cardiac arrest during intense training. You are not a healthcare professional but you can be the one who saves a life in the first minutes. Therefore current first aid and knowledge of the centre's defibrillator are part of the trade. Take a recognised first aid course and repeat it regularly.

Life-saving first aid in Europe is based on the guidelines from the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) which in Denmark is conveyed by the Danish Council for Resuscitation. They are updated at regular intervals — ensure that your course and knowledge follow the current version. The following are the principles; you learn the exact technique in a course with hands.

Survival at cardiac arrest depends on a chain of actions where each link is crucial: early recognition and alerting, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation, early shock with defibrillator and rapid professional help. The faster the chain starts, the greater the chance.

• 01Check consciousness and breathing — is the person responding, and breathing normally?
• 02If unconscious without normal breathing: call 112 and immediately ask for a defibrillator.
• 03Start from a fixed starting point and adjust from there. Review the points before recording.
• 04Turn on the defibrillator (AED) as soon as it is available and follow its spoken instructions.
• 05Continue until the person wakes up or help takes over.

A defibrillator is designed to be used by lay people. It talks you through analyzes the heart rhythm itself and only delivers shock if needed. You cannot accidentally deliver shock to someone who should not get it — so do not be afraid to use it. Know where the centre's AED hangs and that it is ready.

• 01Fainting: lay the person down, raise the legs, ensure fresh air and keep the airway clear.
• 02Low blood sugar in a conscious diabetic: quick sugar (juice, glucose).
• 03Sprain/acute injury: stop the activity protect and relieve and refer for assessment.
• 04Suspected serious condition: do not hesitate to call 112.

Good safety work prevents some emergencies: tidy surroundings, well-maintained equipment, sensible workload and attention to members who look unwell. If an accident still happens, note what happened – it is both good practice and often a requirement in the workplace.

“For cardiac arrest the worst action is no action. Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation and a defibrillator in use doubles the chance of survival.”