Media Release from the Australian Resuscitation Council

Thursday, March 2, 2006 -- Brendan Ward

In a move aimed at increasing survival rates from cardiac arrest the Australian Resuscitation Council is making new recommendations on how CPR is performed.
“The radical shift in this life saving technique is based on international evidence that more frequent chest compressions may result in an increased chance of survival” said Associate Professor Ian Jacobs the National Chair of the Australian Resuscitation Council.

“CPR will now be performed with a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 ventilations” said Associate Professor Jacobs. “The new guidelines will be much simpler to teach and easier to remember”

The Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) will be releasing its updated guidelines for resuscitation on Friday the third of March. The ARC is Australia’s peak resuscitation body and these changes are the result of extensive international collaboration between resuscitation Council’s around the world and are based on best the evidence.

“By making the resuscitation easier to remember and teach more people will be comfortable to attempt resuscitation. Currently less than half the cardiac arrest victims get resuscitation from bystanders. If we can increase the number of people who are prepared to give resuscitation we will save lives” said Associate Professor Jacobs.

It is important to recognise that the previous recommendations for resuscitation resulted in many lives saved and should continue to be used until update training has occurred. The new Guidelines should be easier to remember and more effective. These changes can only be made as we advance our knowledge of the resuscitation science.

The new recommendations will cover Basic Life Support and the more advanced adult, paediatric and neonatal life support.

All first aid teaching organisations will be following the new guidelines shortly

“The most important piece of advice is to call for help (000) and do some CPR (even if you are not exactly certain of the ratios)”

A Gap businessman has pledged to help Lifeline Brisbane reach its annual Doorknock Appeal target of $100,000.
Byron Court, manager of The First Aid Training Company Brisbane will pledge $10 to Lifeline Brisbane for every person who enrols in an Internet Senior First Aid course from May 1st until June 30th.
“This is a terrific opportunity for Westside News readers to support Lifeline and learn valuable skills for themselves,” Byron says. “We care about the health and safety of people in our community and support local charities wherever possible.”
Lifeline Brisbane fundraising officer Margy Chatburn says the organisation relies on the generous support of the Brisbane community and applauded The First Aid Training Company initiative.
The Internet Senior First Aid course is an innovative, highly regarded training course open to individuals and community groups. An inclusive practical training session is held regularly at venues including Barrambin Health in Paddington, and the cost for this course is $125 per person, including the donation.
The Lifeline Doorknock Appeal runs from May 3 – 11 and The First Aid Training Company offer will run beyond these dates. Every dollar raised will help Lifeline continue to provide its 24 hour Crisis Counselling Line and free, professional face-to-face counselling services.
For more information on The First Aid Training Company - Lifeline offer, contact Byron Court on 07 3312 2390, or www.efirstaidbrisbane.com.au for course dates and bookings. To make a direct donation to the Lifeline Doorknock Appeal, phone 1300 135 422 or donate on line at www.lifelinebrisbane.com.au

The First Aid Training Company recently helped in raising money for The Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland through All Queensland Awards (formerly Miss Queensland) local entrant, Angela Gray. The All Queensland Awards is conducted by the Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland to raise vital funds to bridge the gap between available Government funding and actual costs of services provided for people with cerebral palsy.
Angela hosted a dinner dance and auction night on May 18 2002 at the Kedron Wavell Services Club as a major fund raiser, and The First Aid Training Company donated a Senior First Aid course for a group of ten participants valued at over $1200.00 as one of the main items auctioned to guests. Manager of The First Aid Training Company Brisbane, Byron Court said, “This is our most popular course, its fully accredited and WorkCover approved in a flexible package which suits busy people.”
The Caloundra Power Boat Club were the highest bidders for this item at the auction, and all proceeds from the sale went towards Angelas fund raising. The Club was presented with their prize in the form of a large banner on the night, and soon received training for their group of 10 staff on their premises, following completion of their Internet study.
Angela raised a total of almost $16,000 for care and research into Cerebral Palsy. Angela said, “The auction was very successful, I enjoyed raising money while also generating awareness of the prevalence of cerebral palsy within the community.” Angela was not far behind the eventual winner of the All Queensland Awards who raised $23,000. Byron said, “Were proud to support Angela and the Cerebral Palsy League, and wish Angela all the best in her hard work and dedication to this worthy cause.”

In the Press The Courier Mail, 7th July 2001.

WAITING alone at a Sydney train station one day as a teenager years ago, Kevin Barnes felt helpless as a woman in front of him suddenly collapsed unconscious on the edge of the platform.
With trains speeding past just inches from my head I was trying to help her but I had no idea what to do, he said.
Eventually an ambulance came. They took her away and I was just left standing there realising how powerless I was to help.
The incident led to Mr Barnes becoming an ambulance officer in Sydney where each day for the past five years he has assisted members of the public hurt in accidents or suffering from medical emergencies.
A year ago, he took his quest one step further by starting his own nationally recognised and accredited business, The First Aid Training Company, to teach people how to cope in these situations.
Ansett, Westfield, Byvan, Unilever, Hungry Jacks and the Baptist Community Service have since sent staff to Mr Barnes for training.
Every single day of my career as an ambulance officer I have been called to situations where people are suffering cardiac arrest or have been in car accidents or had burns or a million other things that can go wrong.
With almost every call, particularly with children, quite often I would go to help and there would be at least one adult just standing there in a panic.
If they knew what to do, if they had had training for CPR or first aid, they could have often made a difference to the outcome.
He said when someone stopped breathing there were only three to four minutes before irreparable brain damage began occuring.
Often the ambulance takes longer than that to arrive. I know in Sydney CBD it takes an average of nine minutes, so that makes it clear to me the importance of training.
A full course, which is certified in the same way as the well-known St Johns Ambulance first aid training, costs $125, with a discount for group bookings.
He has been approaching primary schools and day care centres, encouraging parents and teachers to learn CPR and first aid.
I saw figures recently that in Canada one in three adults know CPR and first aid and they have one of the worlds lowest sudden death rates, whereas in Australia, at least in N.S.W, only one in 980 people are trained.
As well as the traditional two day face-to-face course, The First Aid Training Company has introduced a mostly Internet based course that people can complete at their own pace, or on their own time.
This reduces the actual hands-on portion of the training down to five hours, saving businesses valuable staff time, or allowing individuals the opportunity to learn first aid without taking two days off work.

Natural Therapy practitioners are dealing with people with a wide range of ailments every day. Knowing First Aid procedures including EAR and CPR, and holding a current certificate has now become a requirement, and is seen as a positive step towards safety and wellbeing for everyone.

Finding the time to attend a course is sometimes a concern, but not an issue with eFirstaid training. A Queensland Massage Therapist says - "running our own practice we have the evening to study and update our skills so the internet First Aid course is ideal - much more convenient to attend a 5 hour practical class, especially when I know First Aid fairly well, I've been doing it for years".

The First Aid Training Company provides flexible training courses for groups, and regular practical classes for individuals. Courses are fully accredited and the content of a Senior First Aid (Level 2) course is relevant to all Acupuncture therapists, Herbal Medicine, Aromatherapy, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Massage and Remedial Massage practitioners.

The First Aid Training Company Brisbane is teaching the 'new' CPR within all courses including Resuscitation and Snr First Aid. Our Instructors are finding that students pick it up quickly, find it faster and easier to put into practice in training and remember the rates right from the word go.

This supports the findings of the ARC and ILCOR - the new rates are easier to teach, and easier to learn. The primary survey - now DRABCD is also faster to complete, so a first responder is more likely to be effective in their application of resuscitation techniques.

In The Press Macarthur Advertiser, 11th October 2000

A combination of early summer blazes and pollen can greatly affect asthma sufferers ability to breathe.
With the recent bushfires and the coming hot season, Kevin Barnes of The First Aid Training Company, is urging asthma sufferers not to downplay the serious life threatening side of the disease.
Australia has the highest incidence of asthma in the world with 10 percent of adults and 20 percent of children suffering the condition at some stage of their lives.
Mr Barnes, said many people die each year from the reversible airways disease.
He is reminding sufferers the importance of carrying medication, usually a puffer, with them at all times.
Sufferers should always have their puffers with them because they do not know when they are going to have an attack, he said.
Somtimes, it could be the difference between life and death.
At times, a simple puff of medication is not enough and these people are now facing a serious life threatening condition.
With severe asthma, the sufferer might not have the associated wheeze, and may become very quiet.
Usually, talking is out of the question because it is hard enough to breathe.
The patient may turn a bluish colour in the face and their level of consciousness may fall.
Your actions now will decide the outcome.
Mr Barnes recommends an immediate call to triple 0 and a request for an ambulance.
The patient should be sat upright, reassured help is on the way and assisted in the use of medications whether it be a pump or nebuliser, he said.
Should the patient stop breathing, expired air resuscitation should be commenced immediately.
The importance of staying calm, ringing triple 0 and giving reassurance cannot be emphasised enough, Mr Barnes said.
A rule of thumb is that if the patient does not respond immediately to their medication, get help immediately.
More information on helping asthma sufferers and saving lives can be acquired by doing a first aid course.

In The Press Macarthur Advertiser - 7th August 2000

RSL staff learn CPR techniques Employees from Ingleburn RSL Club now know how to apply emergency first aid techniques. They attended a course last week covering motor vehicle accidents, heart attacks, bleeding and resuscitation. It focused on the initial care of an injured person.

Kevin Barnes from The First Aid Training Company said the longer a person is left not breathing, the greater the chance of brain damage. Only three or four minutes of not breathing can result in brain damage. In the Sydney Metropolitan area it takes an average of eight minutes for an ambulance to arrive so first aid is very important.

The main thing people need in an emergency is common sense, Mr Barnes said.

RSL Club supervisor Christine Franklin said the course dispelled a few myths. Now I wont be helpless in an emergency situation, Ms Franklin said. I always felt that I should do the course and this was the perfect opportunity, she said.

People with little children should know the skills. Mr Barnes said that after completing the course, the group should expect to be more confident. One life in about six is saved through bystander CPR before the ambulance arrives. Prompt action can save a life, he said.