Ladybird is still open for business. You could even argue that First Aid skills are even more in demand at the moment.
These are the measures that we have in place for our First Aid courses. Any updates to these measures will be added to this post as time progresses. we are guided by the advice from the Resuscitation Council (see links, below)
Need to carry out rescue breaths (mouth to mouth)
This is still a requirement for Workplace and Paediatric courses. We need to observe you carrying out this task.
- Resuscitation Annies are wiped down between each student with 60-100% Propan-2-Ol (alcohol) based wipes
- Resuscitation Annie lungs are changed regularly
- All students will be issued with individual faceshields to practice mouth-to-mouth
- Resuscitation Annie faces are cleaned regularly
For non-workplace courses where there is no requirement – e.g. the 2-hour Parent classes we will not be demonstrating mouth-to-mouth, nor will the class be performing it.
Hand hygiene
Foaming handwash is provided and students are asked to use before and after practice.
Coughs and colds
Please adhere to the following guidance from the Resuscitation Council if you are attending a class or course.
Anyone that arrives with a cough or cold will not be allowed to participate.
- World Health Organisation Public advice
- Resus Council teaching advice
- Resus Council First Aid in the Community advice
Key points from the Resus Council’s CPR in the Community advice, above:
Because of the heightened awareness of the possibility that the victim may have COVID-19, Resuscitation Council UK offers this advice:
- Recognise cardiac arrest by looking for the absence of signs of life and the absence of normal breathing. Do not listen or feel for breathing by placing your ear and cheek close to the patient’s mouth. If you are in any doubt about confirming cardiac arrest, the default position is to start chest compressions until help arrives.
- Make sure an ambulance is on its way. If COVID 19 is suspected, tell them when you call 999.
- If there is a perceived risk of infection, rescuers should attempt compression only CPR and early defibrillation until the ambulance (or advanced care team) arrives. Put hands together in the middle of the chest and push hard and fast.
- Early use of a defibrillator significantly increases the person’s chances of survival and does not increase risk of infection.
- If the rescuer has access to personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g. FFP3 face mask, disposable gloves, eye protection), these should be worn.
- After performing compression-only CPR, all rescuers should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water; alcohol-based hand gel is a convenient alternative. They should also seek advice from the NHS 111 coronavirus advice service or medical adviser.
Paediatric advice
We are aware that paediatric cardiac arrest is unlikely to be caused by a cardiac problem and is more likely to be a respiratory one, making ventilations crucial to the child’s chances of survival. However, for those not trained in paediatric resuscitation, the most important thing is to act quickly to ensure the child gets the treatment they need in the critical situation.
For out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the importance of calling an ambulance and taking immediate action cannot be stressed highly enough. If a child is not breathing normally and no actions are taken, their heart will stop and full cardiac arrest will occur. Therefore, if there is any doubt about what to do, this statement should be used.
It is likely that the child/infant having an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest will be known to you. We accept that doing rescue breaths will increase the risk of transmitting the COVID-19 virus, either to the rescuer or the child/infant. However, this risk is small compared to the risk of taking no action as this will result in certain cardiac arrest and the death of the child.