1...2...3... another one bites the dust!
Before we start our clinical training in the states, we get trained and certified in “Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers” during our last semester of Basic Sciences here at AUC. The class was quite long, lasting from 8am to 3pm, with a 1 hour lunch break in between. With mannequins, masks, air pumps, and defibrillators laid out in front of us, we learned all about how to give CPR, Heimlich maneuver, and use the AED for adults, children, and infants. Afterwards, we took a written exam and then a practical exam where we were given different emergency scenarios in which we had to use our newly acquired skills. Although I really didn’t think we needed 6 hours to learn all this, I still thought it was a fun experience, being there with my friends, trying to save the lives of pulse-less mannequins together.
This isn’t my first time learning CPR. I had previously been certified a few years ago during pre-med with Red Cross in “Adult CPR w/ AED”, but my certificate has long expired, and not sufficient for that required by hospitals. This time, the CPR course we take at school is geared towards health care professionals. Our certificates are issued via the American Heart Association and lasts 2 years.
Here are some fun facts about CPR:
- Only about 10% of people who do receive CPR survive. That may sound bleak, but at least it’s better than 0%. Yeah, it’s not like the way they portray it in the movies.
- As a health care professional, apparently, direct mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing leads to lawsuits and is therefore a big no-no. Personally, I don’t think it’s right to sue someone for saving your life. But anyway, we must always use a mask to do the rescue breathing, and if we don’t have one around, we just do chest compressions only.
- When I took CPR a few years back, they taught us 25 chest compressions per 2 rescue breaths. Now, they’ve revised the rules to become 30 compressions per 2 breaths.
- CPR must be performed at around 100 chest compressions/minute, roughly the same as the beat to the classic song “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen. Just make sure not to sing out loud when you’re doing it in an emergency situation!
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- 1…2…3… another one bites the dust!
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- Nick and Eileen w/ the mannequins we saved!
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- Eileen checking to see if the kung-pao chicken has dislodged from Janice’s airways.
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- The baby I just saved!
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- The patient I’m about to save!
Now I have “Another One Bites the Dust” stuck in my head. That’s a interesting tidbit to remember though. I’d probably do something dumb like start humming it during compressions since I can’t sing. haha!
Do students take ACLS prior to clinical training?
Well, we’re required to take BLS prior to clinical training.
If you want a more appropriate song to do compressions to, “Stayin’ Alive” is another song that follows that beat. Ah ah ah ah stayin alive, stayin alive…..
Also, in a health care setting with masks available, a bag-valve mask is the better option for both the patient (high % oxygen can be administered) and the provider (no emesis in the mouth haha). However, it’s my understanding that outside of clinical situations (such as an arrest in a public place) people are protected against lawsuits by the Good Samaritan Law.