Open AccessInfluence of Automatic Compression Device and Water Rescue Equipment in Quality Lifesaving and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Author(s) -
BarcalaFurelos R,
AbelairasGomez C,
RomoPerez V,
PalaciosAguilar J
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
hong kong journal of emergency medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.145
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 2309-5407
pISSN - 1024-9079
DOI - 10.1177/102490791402100503
Subject(s) - cardiopulmonary resuscitation , medicine , emergency rescue , cardiopulmonary bypass , compression (physics) , significant difference , medical emergency , resuscitation , emergency medicine , anesthesia , materials science , composite material
The purpose of this study was to analyse how the rescue equipment and the automatic compression mechanism influenced the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after a water rescue on the beach. Methods The sample of our research composed of a group of 65 lifeguards (51 men and 14 women). The lifeguards carried out a 5 minute CPR pretest. Afterwards, the sample was randomly divided into two groups. Both groups performed a test: a water rescue, and immediately afterwards 5 minutes of CPR. One group did not have any additional rescue material, while the other used flippers and a rescue tube to swim. The group with the rescue material performed a CPR with an automatic compression mechanism, the Lund University Cardiac Arrest System. Results The use of the automatic compression device improves the conditions in the correct compressions in CPR after a water rescue: (manual: 283±145.25; automatic: 352±119.74, p=0.042). There was no significant difference in the correct breathing (p=0.758). During the water rescue the lifeguards equipped with flippers and a rescue tube were faster (227±69.28 s) than the lifeguards who had not used any additional equipment (271±43.06 s, p=0.003). Conclusion The use of flippers and rescue tube improved the rescue time. The CPR quality when the lifeguard was exerted worsened significantly, but the use of the automatic mechanisms of compression improved the performance of quality chest compressions. This was not the case with the ventilations, these being of poor quality in both groups. (Hong Kong j.emerg.med. 2014;21:291‐299)