The Canadian Red Cross is introducing new guidelines for performing CPR.

For CPR purposes a Baby is considered from birth to one year of age.

Unless a baby has congenital heart problem most of the time it is an injury that necessitates CPR on a baby. Most people are afraid to compress the chest the full depth (1/3 to 1/2) the depth of the chest but this is essential. 

Whenever someone falls unconscious it is considered a life threatening so we need to call 911.
We now recommended that if the is a defibrillator available to use it on the baby.

CPR for babies is 30 chest compressions (performed with two fingers in the middle of the chest followed by 2 breaths (just enough to allow the chest to start to rise).

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code. Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

Did You Know?: November is CPR Month

November is CPR month 2010, be the somebody who saves a life

Seventy per cent of cardiac arrests happen at home, yet only one in seven people know how to perform CPR. Could you perform CPR right now if needed? Knowing these simple techniques could mean the difference between life and death for someone you love.

Permanent brain damage can occur four to six minutes after breathing stops, but the average ambulance response time is nine minutes in large urban centres. Performing CPR immediately following cardiac arrest can double a victim’s chance of survival.

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code.  Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

Did You Know?: Compression Only CPR

The Canadian Red Cross supports the use of compression-only CPR as an acceptable alternative to full CPR with rescue breaths. Compression-only CPR is sometimes the preferred method for members of the public who witness an adult suddenly collapse and are unable to perform full CPR.

Compression-only CPR uses chest compressions to pump the heart, circulating oxygen already in the person’s body. This makes compression-only CPR suitable when An adult suddenly collapses, A responder is unwilling, unable, untrained or unsure how to perform full CPR (cycles of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths), A bystander does not have a breathing barrier and does not want to perform unprotected rescue breaths.

Compression-only CPR should not be used when the oxygen in the victim’s body has likely been used up, such as with a drowning victim or when a respiratory emergency may have caused the cardiac arrest.

Performing CPR on an infant or child requires rescue breaths. When an infant or child’s heart stops, it’s usually because of a respiratory emergency, such as choking or asthma, which uses up their body’s oxygen. The most important thing for Canadians to know right now is that the CPR they’ve been trained to perform is still right. All Canadian Red Cross CPR courses will continue to teach full CPR. Performing full CPR in conjunction with an automated external defibrillator (AED) immediately following cardiac arrest can double a person’s chance of survival. Canadians are most likely to perform CPR on someone they know. Seventy per cent of cardiac arrests happen at home, yet only one in seven people know how to perform CPR.

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code.  Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

Did You Know?: Which CPR Course Should I Take?

Many Clients ask what the CPR levels are and which course they should take. The first level, Level A, covers only adult CPR, the second level B, covers adult, child and baby CPR while the third, Level C, covers adult, child baby and 2-rescuer CPR. In the workplace only Level A is needed. Most employees prefer to have Level B or C since they see the opportunity to help their children.

A new level, called Level HCP, was created four years ago for those in the Health Care field. More and more professional associations for Health Care related industries are demanding HCP training to maintain their professional status. First Aid Ottawa offers CPR training in all our courses; call First Aid Ottawa for more information.

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code.  Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

Did You Know?: Today's Lifesavers

Cara Harder, Mary Lyon and Wendy Zilkie were at work at Cargill Limited when co-worker Robin Gabb collapsed in her cubicle and went into complete cardiac arrest.  They called 9-1-1, performed CPR and utilized the automated external defibrillator.  The ambulance soon arrived and the paramedics took over. After a couple of weeks in hospital, Robin was released and has now made a complete recovery.

Doug Hlady was enjoying a 75th anniversary party in Selkirk, Manitoba last summer when one of the honourees, a 98 year-old man, began choking on a piece of steak.  Someone cried for help and Doug immediately responded. “I just jumped up and went over, and went behind his wheelchair, braced against it and performed chest compressions from behind. It popped out on the second thrust”, Hlady said.

Would you know what to do?

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code.  Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

First Aid for Frost Nip and Frost Bite

Frost Nip is a superficial injury caused by freezing of the skin. In the case of frostbite, the tissue underneath the skin freezes as well.

The best way to deal with these injuries is Prevention. Dress for the weather and cover up vulnerable areas such as fingers, toes, cheeks, ears and nose (but not too tightly).

To treat, warm the area gradually using warm water or body heat. Don’t break blisters, protect them with loose dry dressings

Don’t rub the area or put snow on it. Warm the area only if are sure it will not freeze again.

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code. Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.-2727.

Who can use an Automated External Defibrillator

In 2006, the Ontario Legislature introduced the Chase McEachern Act. This Act protects people from using an automated external defibrillator (by a first aider) in an emergency or they have made an AED available in good faith (by an employer/landlord, etc.). The use of an AED is very simple and has been shown to save lives. All Canadian Red Cross First Aid and CPR courses include certification in the use of an AED.

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code. We provide public and private courses. Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

First Aid for Nose Bleeds

Nosebleeds are a very common injury but some misconceptions still exist about their treatment. Most nosebleeds can be treated by having the person lean their head slightly forward while pinching the nostrils for about 10 to 15 minutes. Use a cloth or bandaging to catch the blood that does come out. Call EMS/911 if the person loses consciousness, if the bleeding continues after 15 minutes or if the bleeding was caused as a result of a medical condition or head injury.

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code. Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.

Drowning prevention

We have already entered a new season in the Ottawa area, the summer drowning season. Every year lives are lost due to drowning, all of which are preventable through simple safety measures.

If you own a pool then you need to ensure that your yard is fenced in, if you have children even the pool itself should be fenced. A baby can drown in as little of an inch of water and there have been cases of drowning in washing machines (as most parents can attest children move very fast).

By law there needs to a life jacket person plus 1 extra in every boat, even this is not enough since a life jacket is of no use if you are not wearing it. Most people will put life jackets on their children but not themselves. If the boat should tip how will you take of the children if you are trying to find and put on your lifejacket (provided you can even put it on)?

Alcohol should be left onshore and you should not boat while intoxicated.

This summer: Prepare! Stay Safe! Survive!

As an Authorized Training Provider of the Canadian Red Cross, all First Aid Ottawa Standard and Emergency First Aid courses are recognized by WSIB and its Federal counterpart the Canada Labour code.  Visit us online at www.FirstAidOttawa.com or at 613-225-2727.