All CPR and first aid courses undergo modifications and improvements approximately every 5 years. Recommendations and modifications are provided through a large committee on CPR which is associated with the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The general direction of CPR within the past few decades has been towards simplicity and ease of understanding. The large committee group has preached a simpler method for all CPR rescues including CPR for adults, children and infants. With the development of a simpler system CPR level “B” has become outdated as all of its curriculum is now included in CPR level “A”.

Difference Between CPR level’s

Prior to 2005, CPR level “A” (more course information) taught candidates specific rescue techniques for adult victims. CPR level “B” went a step further and taught students rescue procedures for adult and child patients. In 2005, CPR techniques for adult and child victims became almost identical. This made the CPR “A” course almost identical to CPR “B”. In 2005, all of the major providers noticed this change and decided to slowly remove it from the program. By approximately 2007 it became almost impossible to find a CPR “B” course or to become certified in it. Unfortunately, not much was done in terms of candidate awareness. Many CPR “B” candidates who needed to re-certify for employment or school purposes were confused and didn’t know whether to upgrade to CPR “C” (includes infant CPR) or to “down-grade”, without knowing its a identical course, to CPR “A”.

Still Around

To make things even more confusing CPR “B” hasn’t been removed entirely from all the programs. The Red Cross has a childcare first aid program which they operate exclusively. In this program CPR “B” is the only option for students. This continued addition to childcare first aid is the last area where CPR “B” exists. However, childcare first aid will soon modify its program and likely also remove CPR “B”.

In the meantime, it is recommended for everybody that was required to have CPR “B” to maintain certification in CPR level “A”. Hopefully this article clears up the confusion with where the CPR level “B” program has went. For more information about the current CPR “A” or CPR “C” program visit our website course pages for either of those classes.

Canadians are stuck with too many options in the first aid and CPR world. Most participants have to select from 3 different first aid courses and in some parts of Canada have to select from at least 4 different levels. CPR training is not much different. Participants can select from at least 3 different CPR level’s. All courses include CPR and all courses include training in the use of automated external defibrillators (AED). The type of CPR course a candidate needs is determined by several options. If a candidate is required to have a certificate for school, volunteer or workplace purposes I strongly recommend that they contact the employer or program administrator to determine the required level of CPR. If a candidate is taking the CPR course for educational purposes only then this article should really help. Prior to registering for any CPR course participants should be aware that no first aid training is included in stand-alone CPR courses. Fortunately, all first aid courses include CPR training. This page will outline the different levels of available CPR courses to Canadians.

Basic CPR

The simplest, quickest and most basic course is CPR level “A”. This course covers essential CPR components including CPR for adult and child patients. Candidates will also learn to recognize and provide care for patients with breathing emergencies such as choking. Participants will also cover topics such as contacting EMS and legal implications of doing CPR. Typical candidates include people that work in the service, fitness and care industries, specifically with adults.

Comprehensive CPR Training

The most popular and one of the most comprehensive CPR courses is CPR “C”. This course includes all of the material offered in CPR “A” and the CPR “C” certificate can substitute a CPR “A” award. In this course candidates will not only learn CPR techniques for adult and child patients but will also learn to treat and care for infant patients. This course is slightly longer than CPR level “A” and includes all of the breathing emergency components.

Health Care Provider Level

The most detailed CPR course is CPR “HCP” which is designed for people that work in the health care industry. This course covers all of the material included in CPR “A” and “C” and adds additional training with the use of advanced equipment and trained assistance. This course is slightly longer than CPR level “C”. Typical candidates include health care workers, health care administrators, and nursing and medical students.

Prior to registering for any course it is important for candidates to determine if they need a CPR “only” course or if they need a combined first aid and CPR course. All first aid and CPR courses include training in the use of automated external defibrillators. Participants should also determine the level of CPR training they are required to have for workplace, volunteer or school purposes. Most candidates opt for CPR level “C” which is easily the most popular course among all three. All CPR courses will teach candidates the basic skills to help preserve and save a life.

The information posted in this blog is for information purposes only. If you wish to learn to treat and recognize first aid emergencies register for a first aid course in Vancouver with Vancouver First Aid Ltd.

The highest method of accidental deaths for infants in North America is via choking. Fortunately, there are two easy ways to prevent infants from choking. One simple method is prevention. I have spoken to an anesthesiologist from a local children’s hospital and he explained to me that infants and young children will choke on EVERYTHING! He has been part of surgical teams removing everything from batteries, lego’s, coins and candy’s from the passage ways of you children and infants.  If they can put in in there mouth they can choke on it. The simplest way to prevent any choking is to prevent it from happening. As they get older, sausages and grapes are the most likely culprits of causing young children, and adults to choke. Cut the grapes in half or in quarters and cut up the hot dog sausages before feeding them to the children. Use common sense around the babies crib, kitchen and with everything they eat. The best way to stop your infant or child from choking is to prevent it from every happening.

Another method of preventing your child or infant from becoming a fatal statistic from choking is by learning CPR. CPR teaches people straight forward and simple methods of rescuing choking victims. Combinations of abdominal thrusts and back blows have a very high statistic of removing a choking obstruction and saving an Adult, infant or Child. Take a CPR course in Vancouver today and learn to save the life of a loved one.

Vancouver First Aid Ltd offers CPR and first aid courses throughout BC in comfortable classrooms in no-pressure and fun environments. We offer the cheapest courses at the most convenient locations. All courses are affiliated with either the Red Cross or the Lifesaving Society.  Register for a course today.

The information posted in this blog about CPR is for information purposes only. The information is current according to the 2005 CPR guidelines and should not be followed if more current CPR guidelines are available. If you want to learn CPR, take a CPR course with Vancouver First Aid, where you will receive hands on training, with up to date standards, at the cheapest prices in the lower mainland.

CPR Procedures for an adult with no obstruction (no choking) and no evidence of head trauma / spinal injury and in a worst-case scenario.

1. Scene Assessment. The rescuer enters the scene looking for any dangers. A rescuer will look for removable hazards and not removable hazards. In the event when a rescuer finds unremovable hazards he/she will contact EMS. If the hazards are removable, remove the hazards and continue to the next step. As a rescuer you do not want to become a victim. Keep yourself safe at all times. A short, popular rhyme to remember when searching for hazards is “fire, wire, gas or glass”.

2. Check for mechanisms of injury. Could this victim have a spinal injury? If no signs of spinal injury are present continue  as normal. The techniques to rescuing a spinal injury victim are not mentioned in this blog. If want to learn these advanced techniques take a CPR course.

3. Check for responsiveness and levels of consicousness. Gently squeeze the victims shoulders while asking if they are ok. The rescuers squeezes the victim while asking in case the victim might have a hearing impairment. If no verbal or physical response is present continue to the next step.

4. Send a bystander to contact EMS. The rescuer will need to stay to continue providing help to the victim, so the best course of action is to send a bystander to contact EMS. Provide the bystander information of the victim including age and level of consciousness (ex: unconsciouss victim). Point at your selected bystander and call out something that they are wearing (ex: “You in the white hat!”) so that they know they have been selected. After asking them to contact EMS, ask them to bring back an AED and someone trained to use it. Make sure to ask your bystander to report back to you and if they understand. We ask them to report back so that we are sure they have contacted EMS. If you are unsure about your bystander select another one. If no bystander is present leave the adult on his/her side (also known as the recovery position) and contact EMS. If AED becomes available, the AED will take precedence over any other part of the rescue.

5. Head-tilt/chin-lift. The rescuer must open the victims airway by tilting the head back gently. With the rescuer on his/her knees, two fingers under the chin and the other palm on the forehead, gently place the victims head back in order to open the airway. This is to unblock the airway from the tongue and allow for easy passage of airway through the victims airway.

6. Look, listen and feel. With the airway open the rescuer must place his/ her ear over the victims mouth (approximately two or three inches away) and listen and feel for breathing. The ear is very sensitive and provides a good sensor to feel and hear for breathing. While listening for breathing, the victim will watch the abdomen and chest for breathing movements. Look, listen and feel for 10 seconds for normal breathing. Normal breathing will allow for 2-3 breaths in those 10 seconds. If breathing is present, place the victim into recovery position and monitor breathing periodically until EMS arrives. If no breathing or no normal breathing is present, continue to the next step.

7. Rescue Breathing. The rescuer will seal the mouth with his or her mouth and give two full breaths. During the breaths the rescuer will pinch the nose, releasing after each breath has been given. The victims airway should be open when providing breaths. Each breath should be delivered over 1 second and should make the chest rise. If available use barrier devices such as pocket pasks with one way valves and gloves.

8. Circulation. After giving two breaths, and the victim remains unresponsive, begin CPR.

9. Landmarking . Expose the vicims chest and landmark between the nipples (on the nipple line) overtop of the sternum. Place one hand overtop of the other hand and lock elbows. Rescuer should be on his or her knees overtop of the victim. Rescuer will perform chest compressions at a pace of 100 chest compressions per minute. Chest compressions will forc the chest approximately 1.5 to 2 inches down or 1/3 to 1/2 of the victims chest. The rescuer will count the chest compressions outloud until he/she reaches 30. After thirty chest compressions, the rescuer will give two breaths as explaind in step number 7.

10. Continue CPR. Rescuer will continue 30 chest compressions to 2 breaths until recuer can not continue due to fatigue, more advanced rescue personal has arrived (EMS) and asked the rescuer to stop, or victim’s condition shows signs of life.

TIPS*

• To remember the right rhthym to chest compressions use the beat of a song such as “Staying Alive” by the Beegees which is 104 beats per minute.
• The AED is a great tool. Turn it on and use it as soon as it arrives when rescuing an adult. Some AED’s provide a rhthym to do chest compressions to.
• The AED will also give a few moments to switch with another CPR rescuer approximately every two minutes.
• The AED will provide straight forward and simple steps for CPR.
• Use as many bystanders as possible for help.

The information provided in this CPR blog is for information purposes only. If you want to receive hands on training with the most recent CPR standards take a Red Cross CPR course with Vancouver First Aid. We look forward to meeting you.

This CPR blog post is for information purposes only. If you want to learn with hands on training take one of many CPR courses in Vancouver that are affiliated with the Red Cross and the Lifesaving Society.

The most popular acronym for CPR is “ABC”. The “A” stands for airway, “B” stands for breathing, and “C” stands either for circulation or compression’s.  This acronym has been the cornerstone to CPR instruction and CPR courses for decades. However, the acronym “ABCD” has always appeared in conversations and discussions involving CPR. A frequent question asked during CPR courses is “What about ABCD?” or “What does the “D” mean?”. The letter “D” stands for deadly bleeding. Conservative advocates for “ABC” say that the “D” has no place in CPR and to keep the primary survey as simple as possible.

However, the traditional definition to the acronym “ABC” is Airway, Breathing and CIRCULATION. Deadly bleeding is part of the circulatory system and by that definition, when shared with “ABC”, “D” can be made part of “ABC” to make “ABCD”. In other words, deadly bleeding is part of circulation and is immediately life threatening so it should be “ABCD”. The argument can go on till morning with no clear winner. As a CPR and First aid instructor for the Lifesaving Society and the Red Cross, it does not matter to me. Either way, if you understand that deadly bleeding is a major priority on your rescue checklist, then I do not care how you choose to remember it. Its all up to choice, you can make it “ABC” or “ABCD”, whatever works with you. No CPR instructor should argue against that.

If you wish to learn CPR with hands on, no pressure training, take one of many CPR courses with Vancouver First Aid ltd. We look forward to meeting you.