General News
12 November, 2023
Community lessons to save lives
Almost 50 members of the general public attended a defibrillation session hosted by Warracknabeal Rotary Club on November 1. Guest speaker Casey Kosch of Casey Kosch First Aid Training highlighted the need for all community defibrillators to be...
Almost 50 members of the general public attended a defibrillation session hosted by Warracknabeal RotaryClub on November 1.
Guest speaker Casey Kosch of Casey Kosch First Aid Training highlighted the need for all community defibrillators to be registered with Ambulance Victoria so that in an emergency a 000 call-taker could inform the caller exactly where they were located, if needed.
Warracknabeal Rotary Club has donated two 24-hour-access defibrillators to the local community: one at the Rotary pubic buildingat 158 Scott Street and the other at Wheatfields Medical Centre.
Ms Kosch told participants to "always remember DRSABCD":
* Danger - anything that can harm you or others
* Response - can the patient hear you or do they respond to touch
* Send for help - call 000 and activate speakerphone
* Airway - for adults, tilt the head and lift the chin
* Breathing - look, listen and feel at the chest, and if the patient is not breathing normally and is not responding, start CPR (mouth-to-mouth breathing is not required in most CPR situations anymore but applying a head tilt and chin lift while performing CPR is recommended)
* Compression - place both hands in the middle of the chest and push hard and fast
* Defibrillation- turn on the machine and follow the instructions.
Ms Kosch said when using a defibrillator it was important to be aware of a few basic requirements.
"Place the pads on the bare chest, away from jewelry and clear from dirt and water," she said.
"If they have hair present, shave the chest before using the pads.
"Do not touch the patient when shocking them."
She said even without a defibrillator a community member could step in to help.
"If you do not have a defibrillatornearby,just continue CPR until the paramedics arrive.
"Keep listening to the 000 responder on the phone - they will calmlytalk you through what you need to do and are very supportive."