General recommendations for BLS in adults by lay rescuers for suspected or confirmed COVID-19
- Cardiac arrest is identified if a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
- Responsiveness is assessed by shaking the person and shouting. When assessing breathing, look for normal breathing. In order to minimise the risk of infection, do not open the airway and do not place your face next to the victims’ mouth / nose. This guideline was provided on 24 April 2020 and will be subject to evolving knowledge and experience of COVID-19. As countries are at different stages of the pandemic, there may be some international variation in practice. EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES 7
- Call the emergency medical services if the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
- During single-rescuer resuscitation, if possible, use a phone with a hands-free option to communicate with the emergency medical dispatch centre during CPR .
- Lay rescuers should consider placing a cloth/towel over the person’s mouth and nose before performing chest compressions and public-access defibrillation. This may reduce the risk of airborne spread of the virus during chest compressions.
- Lay rescuers should follow instructions given by the emergency medical dispatch centre.
- After providing CPR, lay rescuers should, as soon as possible, wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water or disinfect their hands with an alcohol-based hand-gel and contact the local health authorities to enquire about screening after having been in contact with a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
Attention! In case that the victim is not a case or suspect for coronavirus (Covid-19), proceed with CPR as known.
All the guidlines above have now applied to our training programs with CPR.
If you are looking to attend a course organised by us, for you or your employees please contact us on 777 8 7779
