Pandemic First aide - Fact or fiction?

Kobie — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:59:49 GMT

During a pandemic would CPR or first aide be helpful or futile because EMT and hospitals will be overwhelemed or non exsistant.

Wilderness first aide is reccomended for hikers, sailors and anoyone else who will be 30 min or more from medical help and support.
As EMT and doctors are overwhelemed CPR and first aide may be helpful before and during the first part of a pandemic. The concern is PPE.

During the core of the pandemic people differ on CPR.

Also CPR for children and young adults is different than CPR for older adults. A kids heart will stop for a different reason than the plaque and heart disease affecting an older heart.

Even during a heavy pandemic a child may need CPR but not any further immediate medical attention. In contranst adult CPR is more of a bridge to keep the person alive untill full medical intervention and help are available.

During recovery after a pandemic would trained laymen be helpful?

BTW - the new CPR rules are 30 compressions and 2 breaths with AED training. I've been told just the change in breaths has made "a positive statiscily significant and noticable" impact on survival rate.

Flu Wiki Forum - first aide

Pandemic First aide - Fact or fiction?