Page 30 - Waterfall City Issue 12 2022

Waterfall City News

CPR ADVANCES

CPR via video call could save a life

I n a first for Africa, a new digitally ‘hands only’ CPR can be as effective technology,” says Zita van Zyl, Netcare

enabled life-saving service puts
as the traditional technique involving
911’s critical care operations manager.
callers phoning from the scene of
giving the patient rescue breaths,”
a medical emergency face-to-face
requiring CPR to Netcare 911’s EOC on
operations director.
with trained Netcare 911 emergency says Shalen Ramduth, Netcare 911’s When a caller reports an emergency
healthcare providers to demonstrate 082 911, the coordinator immediately
and guide them through the The American Heart Association initiates the video calling process
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) now recommends that members of by sending the caller a link via SMS,
technique until paramedics arrive. the public perform ‘hands only’ CPR which connects to a live secure video
using chest compressions alone if an platform. The caller clicks on the link
Particularly since the start of the adult collapses and they are not in a to connect with the Netcare 911
COVID-19 pandemic, members of the healthcare setting. emergency care providers, enabling
public may be hesitant to perform them to see and hear each other.
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on LIFE-SAVING SKILLS IN THE
anyone other than an immediate family CALLER’S HANDS “A qualified healthcare provider such
member in an emergency – however this “Even if you have never done CPR as a registered nurse or paramedic
aspect is no longer considered necessary. before, Netcare 911’s national then demonstrates the relevant CPR
Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is technique for an adult, child or an infant
“Few people are aware that CPR putting life-saving skills into the hands on an appropriately-sized mannequin
does not require mouth-to-mouth of the public with this new, innovative representing the patient, while a case
resuscitation, as recent findings show application of telehealth video call manager coaches the caller to copy their

28 Waterfall City Issue 12 2022