Aibu to be a bit shocked at St Johns Ambulance teaching of CPR?

[Hairyfairy01]

Dd recently attended at group where St Johns Ambulance very kindly agreed to teach the kids first aid and CPR. However I was a bit shocked that they were still teaching the 2 puffs and 30 pumps on the chest technique.

I thought this method stopped being taught years ago thanks to Vinnie .Jones and his 'staying alive' campaign with the British Heart Foundation? It certainly isn't how you are taught it in the NHS.

AIBU to think that such organisations should be teaching people, especially very young children, the correct, most up to date techniques or am I just being ungrateful?

That's how I was taught at my first aid refresher last year (Girl Guiding).

Thanks for the responses. Interesting to hear that most of you are being taught the 2 breathes, 30 pumps method.

I work for the NHS and was taught to just do chest compressions (unless we felt we could also do the breathes). I'm happy to be wrong on this one and agree that any CPR is better than none.

I remember my (NHS) trainer saying the military were about 10 years ahead in CPR techniques than the NHS, and St Johns / Red Cross etc were 10 years behind the NHS. I have no idea how true that is.

the military were about 10 years ahead in CPR techniques than the NHS, and St Johns / Red Cross etc were 10 years behind the NHS

I'm hoping they all base their training on the guidelines from the Resuscitation Council, which are in turn based on recent research.

I've had St John's and Red Cross first aid training in the last few years and was taught 2 breaths 30 compressions.

Perhaps they meant military are better in first aid scenarios?

Oh and I'm a student in the NHS, both uni and hospital have recently taught cpr with rescue breaths

We are taught 2 breaths and 30 compressions too, but are only allowed to do the breaths if there is a face mask available (I work for an airline so there is a mask, oxygen and a defib onboard that would hopefully arrive quickly - until it arrives we are taught to just do compressions).

Nurse & 30-2 in my last update.
I always carry a pocket mask just in case, I've had to give CPR twice outside of work & like to be prepared

Me too, masks here too

I did the Red Cross Cardiac First Responder certification last year and we were taught 2 breaths to 30 compressions.

Personally I do it to Nelly the Elephant because my compressions are deeper than to Stayin Alive.

There's a playlist of suitable songs on Spotify too.

I did my first aid course last week. 30 compressions and 2 breaths. Use a mouth shield if available but if not and don't want too then continuous compressions

Emergency first aider here for a big visitor attraction and we were taught the 30:2 ratio, with extra breaths for children under 5. We carry pocket masks in all first aid kits.

As an nhs trainer and Advanced Lifesupport Instructor i can promise all nhs training is based on resus council guidelines.

Chest compression only will work as the physics of the compression will force a small amount of air into the lungs. 30:2 as soon as possible though if able. And defib asap. Swap the chest compression giver over at regular intervals as its hard work.

I know someone who on her own did compression only for 20 mins and the guy lived.

Rescue breaths are important for baby/ child casualties - 5 initial breaths then 30 chest then 2 breaths, 30 chest, 2 breaths and keep going.
Public are told to do chest press because many would not want to perform mouth to mouth or if you do not tilt head back properly you can block airways.
Just performing chess presses is better than not doing anything.
For an adult non breathing casualty then chest press first (as they generalise that if it's an unknown reason it's the heart) then 2 breaths then back to 30 presses.
St. John's, as far as I have been trained in first aid, were not wrong.

as the main query has been answered I can't help but be pedantic and point out it is St John - no S.

(For member and it has long since been a bugbear!)

SJA are part of the tripartite group who write the First Aid manual. Rescue breaths were not dropped - it was to encourage people to try cpr as even without the breaths it can still make a difference.

Have a look at the Resuscitation Council (UK) website. As PPs have said, all teaching should be based on these guidelines. They also explain on there when you might do compression only CPR. If you are unsure, call 999 and anything is better than nothing.

Rescue breaths are more important for kids as an arrest in children is more likely to be respiratory than cardiac.

You can also download the resus council app, can help as a reference if an emergency happens in public and you may be the first person on scene. They also have the guidelines for choking children/adults

To be fair a large part of my NHS training was about the defibrillators which obviously we have access to at work (also available in lots of community settings).

Sounds like I am wrong, and I'm happy to be so. I do however feel slightly uncomfortable with young children (my dd is 7) being taught the 2:30 way.

I feel the vinnie jones method is probably more suited to general members of the public, especially kids. However dd also learnt lots of other useful first aid stuff, recovery position etc, and it made an interesting chat before bedtime tonight!

Was just watching army cadets officers teaching school children this the other day- they did 2 puffs and 25 chest compressions.

Just done St John's First Aid ( last Friday).2 breaths 30 compressions

(NHS) HCP here and my annual update includes the two rescue breaths and 30 chest compressions. We are all issued with pocket masks.

Nhs here and did cpr training a week ago...taughter both but explained breaths needed but people relunction to do it so chest compressions better than nothing.

I give CPR instructions most days at work (ambulance service). We have certain situations where we give ventilations 1st instructions, but most of the time we just give compressions instructions.

Oh and can I hijack this thread as an opportunity to ask you all to familiarise yourself with your nearest defib location, and if you are in a school/business/community without a defib, to please apply/fundraise for one? They make a world of difference.

Taught! No idea where er came from