First Aid Talk 2

Year 5 students at Rochedale State School had their second visit from Wayne Larsen, a Red Cross First Aid Instructor, on Monday, 1 March, 1999. This time, Wayne taught the children to do the Expired Air method of Resuscitation (E.A.R for short).

After checking for Danger, Response, Airways and Breathing, the children were told that E.A.R is begun if the patient has no breathing but a pulse. If there is no pulse, C.P.R is used but children are not taught this method at their age. Here's a chart showing the number of breaths for adults and children for E.A.R.

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ADULTS
1 Breath every 4 seconds
15 per minute

CHILDREN/BABIES
1 small breath/puff every 3 seconds
20 per minute

For First Aid purposes, a Baby is under 1 year old, a Child, under 8 years of age and Adults, 9 years and over. Here's the routine to follow for Expired Air Resuscitation after the D.R.A.B steps have been followed:

5 quick breaths to fill the patient's lungs with air.
Check the pulse.
If there is a pulse but still no breathing continue breathing for 1 minute.
"Breathe, Look, Listen and that's one" is a way to count your breaths.
Check the pulse.
If there is a pulse but still no breathing continue breathing for 2 minutes.
Then check the pulse again.
Continue this until help arrives or the patient begins breathing by themselves.


First it was Year 5p's turn to practice on the manikins.	The children were extremely well behaved and enjoyed their lesson.

Groups of eight children had a turn while the others watched and waited for their turn,	Wayne thought they did a great job of learning and listening.

Then the manikins arrived in Year 5g's room, laid out on the floor for their next customers.	The children vied for front row positions so they could be first to try them.

Wayne explained to the children that if someone is not breathing they only have 0.5% chance of survival if nothing is done, but up to 90% if E.A.R. is begun.	A person has 4 minutes of not breathing before the brain begins to die and even then it is worth trying to save them. Wayne then handed out the plastic bags with the mouth pieces in them.

Each child had their own for hygiene purposes and were quite fascinated with the faces.	Wayne then demonstrated how the bag was placed inside the manikin and the face piece put on.

Wayne also told the children why E.A.R. works so well - while the common perception is that we breathe out carbon dioxide, we actually only breathe in 5% oxygen and exhale 17% oxygen, so that the patient is getting plenty of oxygen from E.A.R.


When a person is unconscious, the tongue lies against the back of the throat, so it is necessary to tilt the head back with the hand on the forehead.	Wayne then demonstrated a pistol grip which is used on the chin to hold the head back in position as well as the hand on the forehead.

Between each breath, you turn your head to look at the patient's chest to check that the air is going to the lungs and not the stomach.	Then the children had their turn. First the bag was placed in the manikin. This imitates the patient's lungs.

Then the children did 5 quick breaths to inflate the lungs.	Then they checked the pulse and continued breathing for 1 minute while Wayne counted.

Then it was another 2 minutes, after checking the pulse one more time.	The children found 2 minutes a long time and I'll bet there's some sore lips tonight!!

After all the children had their turn on the manikins, Wayne showed the children a face mask which can be used on adults.	Then he showed them a child's mask, which is considerably smaller.

Then Wayne showed the children how to do E.A.R. on a baby, where E.A.R. is only 1 small puff every 3 seconds and the nose and mouth are covered.	Lastly we were showed how to check the pulse on a baby under the arm as their necks are too small to find the carotid artery.

In cases where the patient is not breathing and also has no pulse, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (C.P.R) is used. This can be done with either one or two people. Here's the routine for C.P.R.

Airway clearance on the side.
No breathing - then 5 full breaths.
No pulse
Compression site lower half of sternum.

Single Operator
ADULTS
2 hands depressing chest 4-5cm
15 compressions, 2 breaths in 15 seconds
CHILD
1 hand depressing 2-3cm
15 compressions 2 breaths in 10 seconds.
INFANT
2 fingers 1-2cm
15 compressions 2 breaths in 10 seconds.

2 Operators
ADULTS
2 hands depressing chest 4-5cm
5 compressions, 1 breath in 5 seconds
CHILD
1 hand depressing 2-3cm
5 compressions, 1 breath in 3 seconds
INFANT
2 fingers 1-2cm
5 compressions, 1 breath in 3 seconds

Once again an excellent lesson, thanks a lot Wayne. We'll look forward to our next one on bandaging!!

Click here for the first First Aid Talk on Basic First Aid.
Click here for the third First Aid Talk on Bandaging.
Click here for the fourth First Aid Talk on Poisons and Bites.

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Page created by Glenda Crew, 1/3/99