What CPR Equipment You Need for First Aid Emergencies
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The right CPR equipment can determine whether a bystander keeps someone alive long enough for paramedics to arrive. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest remains one of Australia’s leading causes of sudden death, and your workplace or home may be the place where that emergency happens. The tools you have on hand will shape what you are able to do about it.
Who Needs CPR Equipment?
Anybody can be the first one on the scene in an emergency, and so everybody can stand to be prepared by having first aid and CPR equipment on hand to save lives, not just healthcare professionals. In particular, CPR equipment should be kept by:
Workplaces. Every workplace must provide at least one first aid kit that workers can see and reach without delay. Employers who find a higher chance of cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, or other life-threatening events on site should consider stocking additional CPR equipment such as a defibrillator.
Households. Three out of four out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Australia occur at home. You do not need a professional setup, but a basic first aid kit with a resuscitation face shield is a good start. A home AED may be worth considering for households where a family member has a known heart condition or other cardiac risk factors.
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
CPR alone cannot correct the electrical fault that causes the heart to quiver instead of pump. An AED is a portable device that analyses a person’s heart rhythm during cardiac arrest and, if it detects a shockable rhythm, delivers an electric shock to help restore a normal beat.
AEDs are designed to be used by anyone, with or without training. They provide step-by-step voice prompts that guide the responder through pad placement and shock delivery. The device will not deliver a shock unless it detects a rhythm that requires one, so there is no risk of harming a person who does not need defibrillation.
Pocket Masks and Face Shields
A barrier device sits between your mouth and the person receiving rescue breaths during CPR. Its purpose is to reduce the risk of cross-contamination from blood, saliva, or other bodily fluids, and in practise it can make a bystander more willing to perform resuscitation on a stranger. Two common types of CPR equipment serve this role: pocket masks and face shields.
Pocket masks. A pocket mask is a rigid, contoured mask that fits over the person’s mouth and nose. It includes a one-way valve that directs air into the person’s airway while blocking fluid. Pocket masks are reusable after cleaning and disinfection, though the one-way valve should be replaced after each use.
Face shields. A face shield is a flat, disposable sheet of thin plastic with a one-way valve or filter at its centre. You lay it over the person’s face and deliver breaths through the valve. Face shields are lightweight and compact, making portability a major advantage. The trade-off is that they do not form as tight a seal as a pocket mask, and they are single-use items.
Maintaining CPR Equipment
A defibrillator that sits in a hallway cabinet for years without attention may fail when it matters. Electrode pads contain a conductive gel that dries out over time, and they have a limited shelf life of two to five years. Once the gel degrades, the pads may not stick to the chest or conduct the shock as intended. Batteries last between two and seven years. Both pads and batteries must be replaced before their printed expiry dates, and both should be replaced immediately after any use.
A flashing red light, an audible chirp, or a warning icon signals that your AED’s battery is low, the pads have expired, or the unit needs servicing. Perform a visual check once a month: confirm the status light is green, verify that pads and batteries are within date, and inspect the unit for physical damage.
Equipment Is Only Half the Equation: Get CPR Training
The CPR equipment in your workplace or home is only as useful as the person who reaches for it. The next time someone near you collapses, that preparation is what will let you act. If you want to be sure you can use your CPR equipment when it matters, you can learn the skills to save a life by enrolling in a CPR training course with a registered training organisation like Skills Training College. Working with our expert trainers and practicing on a durable CPR manikin, among other training equipment, will help ensure you’re ready when it counts.
FAQs
Do I Need A Different AED for Children?
Yes. For children under eight years of age or under 25 kilograms, paediatric pads or a paediatric key should be used to reduce the energy output. If paediatric pads are unavailable, adult pads can be used in an emergency, but they should not overlap on a small chest.
What Items Should Be in a First Aid Kit?
A general first aid kit should include the following first aid supplies: bandages, dressings, gauze, a thermal blanket, saline solution, a resuscitation face mask or face shield, disposable gloves, sterile wipes, tweezers, safety pins, a pair of scissors, and eye pads.
Can You Learn CPR in a First Aid Course?
A HLTAID011 Provide First Aid training course includes HLTAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation as a built-in component. You should renew your Perform CPR training every 12 months, while the full first aid qualification should be renewed every three years.
