CPR Guidelines Australia: Life-Saving Techniques for Adults and Children
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CPR guidelines Australia are the best and most up-to-date life-saving techniques as established by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a critical emergency procedure used when someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped—common scenarios include sudden cardiac arrest. This article covers crucial CPR techniques for adults, children, and infants, equipping you with the knowledge to potentially save lives.
What is CPR? Understanding the Basics
CPR, which stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a life-saving technique. It involves a series of actions that help pump blood and deliver oxygen throughout the body when the heart fails to do so on its own. Typically, this includes performing chest compressions combined with rescue breaths (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation). These actions work together to maintain the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and other vital organs until the heart can beat normally again or until emergency responders take over.
Differences Between Adult, Child, and Infant CPR
Understanding the different CPR guidelines Australia between adults, children, and infants is crucial when performing CPR. Adults have larger bodies and more robust structures, thus requiring deeper chest compressions. Children, especially infants, are more fragile, requiring modifications in the force and frequency of compressions and breaths to prevent harm while ensuring the CPR is effective.
One of the most critical differences in CPR technique between adults and children relates to the depth of chest compressions. For adults, the recommended depth is at least 5 centimetres (two inches), while for children, it’s about 2.5 to 5 centimetres (one to two inches), and for infants, it’s about 3.5 centimetres (1.5 inches), or about a third of the chest’s depth. Moreover, the hand placement differs slightly to accommodate the size of the child’s or infant’s chest.
Special Considerations for Infant CPR
CPR guidelines Australia state that when performing CPR on infants, special precautions are necessary because of their small size and fragility. You should use only your index and middle fingers to press down gently in the centre of the infant’s chest. You should also never use an AED on a child younger than one year old.
The DRSABCD protocol
The DRSABCD protocol offers a structured, methodical approach to rapidly assessing a situation and delivering the appropriate first aid, aiming to preserve life until emergency medical help arrives.
This helpful acronym serves as a memory aid for first aiders, outlining the critical steps needed during an emergency. Here’s what each letter stands for:
- D – Danger: First, check the surroundings for any potential hazards to yourself, any bystanders, or the person who is injured or ill.
- R – Response: Try to gauge the person’s responsiveness by calling their name and gently shaking their shoulders.
- S – Send for help: Immediately call emergency services (000 in Australia), or instruct someone else to make the call.
- A – Airway: Ensure the person’s airway is clear by tilting their head back and lifting their chin.
- B – Breathing: Look, listen, and feel to check if the person is breathing normally.
- C – CPR: If the person isn’t breathing normally, begin chest compressions (i.e. start CPR) with 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths.
- D – Defibrillation: If an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is available, use it according to the provided instructions.
A Step By Step Guide to Performing CPR on Adults, Children, and Infants
Adult CPR:
- Immediately call emergency services (000 in Australia) or ask someone else to make the call.
- Lay the person flat on their back on a firm surface.
- Kneel beside their chest. Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest, just below the nipple line. Place your other hand on top and interlock your fingers.
- Keep your arms straight and align your shoulders directly above your hands.
- Using your body weight, press straight down on their chest, about 5–6 cm (2 inches).
- Release the pressure without removing your hands, allowing the chest to return to its original position.
- Perform the compressions at a rate of 100–120 per minute.
- After 30 compressions, give 2 rescue breaths: tilt their head back, lift the chin, pinch the nose shut, and completely cover their mouth with yours. Blow steadily for about one second and watch for the chest to rise.
- Continue cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until emergency help arrives or the person starts breathing on their own.
Child CPR (Over 1 Year Old):
- Follow the adult CPR steps but use only one hand for chest compressions.
- Compress the chest by about one-third of its depth.
Infant CPR (Under 1 Year Old):
- Use two fingers to press down in the centre of the chest, just below the nipple line.
- Compress the chest about one-third of its depth, roughly 3.5 to 4 cm (1.5 inches).
- For rescue breaths, slightly tilt the head back, cover the infant’s mouth and nose with your mouth, and blow gently to see the chest rise.
Using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable, life-saving device designed to diagnose and treat sudden cardiac arrest by checking the person’s heart rhythm and delivering an electrical shock. This shock can potentially restore a normal heart rhythm. The AED is user-friendly, offering clear visual and audio instructions to guide even untrained bystanders through the process. Importantly, it is engineered to prevent the delivery of a shock when a non-shockable rhythm is detected. Using an AED alongside CPR can dramatically increase survival rates in cases of sudden cardiac arrest.
Why Use an AED?
- Sudden cardiac arrest is a major cause of premature death. The only effective treatment to restore the heart’s rhythm is defibrillation.
- AEDs are intentionally simple, allowing people without medical training to use them effectively.
- Administering defibrillation quickly, within the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, can greatly enhance the chances of survival.
- While CPR is crucial, it alone cannot restart the heart—defibrillation is necessary.
How to Use an AED
- Check if the person is responsive and breathing. If they are unresponsive and not breathing normally, immediately call for emergency help.
- Turn on the AED and follow the audio prompts provided by the device.
- Prepare the chest area by exposing it and drying it off if wet.
- Apply the AED pads to the bare chest, following the placement diagram on the pads.
- Step back and allow the AED to analyse the heart rhythm.
- If a shockable rhythm is detected, the AED will prompt you to press the shock button, unless it is a fully automated version of the device, in which case it will do so by itself.
- After delivering the shock, resume CPR—chest compressions and rescue breaths—and while the AED re-analyses the patient’s heart rhythm, they begin breathing again on their own, or until emergency services arrive.
- Never use an AED on a child younger than one year old.
Get CPR Training and Certification
To best adhere to the CPR guidelines Australia, training and practice under certified instructors are vital. Skills Training College offers comprehensive first aid training, including CPR for adults, children, and infants. Our courses are designed to provide hands-on experience with scenarios that simulate real-life situations, ensuring that trainees can confidently apply their skills when needed. Our training is fully accredited, nationally recognised and available in both face-to-face and online formats, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Don’t wait for an emergency to threaten someone you love. Take decisive action now and enrol in an accredited CPR course at Skills Training College. The steps you take, could one day save a life. Don’t put it off—get trained, stay prepared, and you might just transform a potential tragedy into a tale of survival and thankfulness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Should You Take a CPR Course?
Taking a CPR class is not just about learning the moves; it’s about gaining the confidence to actually use them when the chips are down. Knowing exactly what basic life support to give for different ages and how to handle an AED can make all the difference. Places like Skills Training College offer accredited courses that equip you to face these high-stakes situations head-on.
Can I Get CPR Certified Online?
Yes, Skills Training College’s online CPR Certification Course (HLTAID009 – Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is the most recent nationally accredited certification designed for healthcare workers or anyone interested in learning CPR. This qualification showcases the fact that you are proactive and well organised. Just be aware that though it’s an online CPR course, you are required to demonstrate your ability to perform CPR and use an AED defibrillator on manikins. This is done by participating in a one-hour Skills Practice & Assessment Workshop.
When Should You NOT Do CPR?
CPR should not be used if the person shows clear signs of life, such as breathing or movement. CPR should not be performed if doing so would put the rescuer in danger, such as in a hazardous environment.
