(This article was published in the Village Pump dated March 28, 2003.)
Chain of Survival – Samford First Responders
It seems a popular thought that most people believe that when an emergency occurs, whether it is fire, medical, or some other threat, someone else will be there to help, save or protect them. Some people build in bushfire prone areas and take little or no precautions to protect their home or themselves from the ravage of fire - "The fire brigade will save us.” Our fine volunteer and career emergency services will do their very best to get to you and do their job, but there can be no guarantees that they'll arrive in time for an infinite number of reasons. There are only a limited number of fire trucks, ambulances and police vehicles, and in rural and semi-rural areas they may be 15-30 minutes away, particularly during busy periods.
The reality is that self preservation relies on YOU. And this is never truer when it comes to first aid, CPR and basic life preservation techniques. A patient who is unable to breath, or whose heart is not pumping, will most likely die within 10 minutes if nothing is done. Someone with first aid and CPR knowledge can immediately extend this time to 20 minutes or longer by quickly establishing an airway, helping the patient breath and by giving CPR if required. This will buy valuable time for the Samford First Responders and the Ambulance to arrive and provide defibrillation and oxygen therapy, which will further extend the opportunity for the patient to survive, allowing advanced medical care by the QAS paramedics and the hospitals to give the patient their best chance of survival and return to a normal life.
The Chain of Survival consists of four links: <Early Access - to get help> <Early CPR - to buy time> <Early Resuscitation - to restart heart> and <Early Advanced Care - to stabilize>. YOU can assist with the first two links and significantly increase the chance of survival.
By investing a few dollars and a few hours, you can learn all about first aid and CPR, providing you the skills and confidence to literally save someone’s life, often with a very simple action. That life you save may be a stranger, a neighbour or a loved one.
The Samford First Responders web site (www.SamfordFRG.aesvn.org) has more information about the Chain of Survival, and provides links to the QAS CPR2000 program.
Plans are well underway for the official launch of the Samford First Responders by the Minister of Emergency Services, including the presentation of our 3rd Defibrillator. More information as things firm up, so please keep Saturday 10th May at 10am free in your calendars!!
Please remember to call 000 for any emergency – do not contact any Samford First Responders directly as we have to be activated by QAS together with an ambulance.