I'm just about to take my SSI Rescuse Skills course. I have completed 5 CPR courses (ran by American Heart Association, American Red Cross and St Johns) including a 1 week course in "Public First Aid" (St Johns Ambulance, UK) and also been well trained by BSAC. I'd welcome any comments from qualified individuals about whether I was taught incorrectly or just maybe the texst (and course?) is written very badly. In balance I will add I think I will get something from the course as I know the instructor and his style and he goes above and beyond.
So on page 97 of the book it makes the following statements:
"rescue breathing is very difficult in water...and it may also force water into the lungs."
Excuse me? 6 courses so far have told me that if in doubt perform EAR (expired air resuscitation/artificial respiration). If water is in the lungs, it does need to be drained. But the air you push in will be the difference between a realistic recovery after return of consiousness and a vegetable. BSAC teaches a very effective method of performing mouth-to-nose EAR which is comparatively easy to perform in water.
It also claims that in-water CPR should not be attempted as it can "pose the risk of forcing gastric stomach contents into the victim's lungs."
OK once again I am left wondering. First, who could perform chest compressions in water anyway? You can't even perform them on a bed. How would chest compressions cause stomach contents to go up the aesophogus and into the lungs (unless the victim just regained consciousness and threw up)?
Finally the book states that if you have to "intensify" your rescue breathing due to proximity of help/shore/boat etc., that you should breath for the non-breathing casualty every 5s. OK once again...every 5s? I am conscious and I breath once every 5s. Are they trying to tell me that an unconscious diver needs as much air as I do? (Let's face it the rate for CPR/EAR is 12-15 compressions per 2 breaths, that's slower than one every 5s) If you are attempting to tow and breath I think every 5s is near impossible. If you are stationary maybe. I seem to recall 1 breath every 10 fin strokes, meaning 1 breath every 10 s.
The final corker on page 89 says:
"If you are familiar with your buddy's equipment, such as how the power-inflator operates, a buddy assist will run smoother."
I cannot believe I am reading this drivel. If you are diving with someone you should know how their equipment operates! It's called a pre-dive buddy check.
*wanders away muttering to himself*
Thanks guys!
So on page 97 of the book it makes the following statements:
"rescue breathing is very difficult in water...and it may also force water into the lungs."
Excuse me? 6 courses so far have told me that if in doubt perform EAR (expired air resuscitation/artificial respiration). If water is in the lungs, it does need to be drained. But the air you push in will be the difference between a realistic recovery after return of consiousness and a vegetable. BSAC teaches a very effective method of performing mouth-to-nose EAR which is comparatively easy to perform in water.
It also claims that in-water CPR should not be attempted as it can "pose the risk of forcing gastric stomach contents into the victim's lungs."
OK once again I am left wondering. First, who could perform chest compressions in water anyway? You can't even perform them on a bed. How would chest compressions cause stomach contents to go up the aesophogus and into the lungs (unless the victim just regained consciousness and threw up)?
Finally the book states that if you have to "intensify" your rescue breathing due to proximity of help/shore/boat etc., that you should breath for the non-breathing casualty every 5s. OK once again...every 5s? I am conscious and I breath once every 5s. Are they trying to tell me that an unconscious diver needs as much air as I do? (Let's face it the rate for CPR/EAR is 12-15 compressions per 2 breaths, that's slower than one every 5s) If you are attempting to tow and breath I think every 5s is near impossible. If you are stationary maybe. I seem to recall 1 breath every 10 fin strokes, meaning 1 breath every 10 s.
The final corker on page 89 says:
"If you are familiar with your buddy's equipment, such as how the power-inflator operates, a buddy assist will run smoother."
I cannot believe I am reading this drivel. If you are diving with someone you should know how their equipment operates! It's called a pre-dive buddy check.
*wanders away muttering to himself*
Thanks guys!