Save Hyunkel‼️ A Basic Life Support Course to Become a Hero on the Street
Facing life through stories that stir the heart. Yuriko Himekusa, a 'heart storyteller who weaves together the medical field and daily life.'
What would you do if someone you were talking to suddenly collapsed in front of you?
Well, you would call an ambulance, right?
In fiscal year 2023, the average time from calling an ambulance to its arrival was approximately 10.0 minutes.
In fiscal year 2008, the average was about 7 minutes and 42 seconds.
The time is getting longer, isn't it?
You might have encountered the basics of emergency aid when getting your driver's license.
The primary goal of emergency resuscitation is to 'enable a return to society without aftereffects.'
So, what is the most important factor that determines that return to society?
The brain. The brain is vulnerable to the loss of arterial blood flow, and brain cells die after 4 minutes in an oxygen-deprived state.
Just waiting for an ambulance to arrive could lead to serious brain damage.
By the way, everyone, the number for an ambulance is '119'.
You might think, 'What's so obvious about that?', but people surprisingly make mistakes when they panic.
As an aside, there was a case where, when Coach Osim collapsed, his family didn't know how to call an ambulance, which delayed the arrangements. I felt that when abroad, one must at least know the 'way to call an ambulance' in that country. (In the US and Canada, police, ambulance, and fire services are all unified under 911.)
So, today's theme is 'Basic Life Support'.It is also called BLS (Basic Life Support).It is not an abbreviation for Boys Love Special.B-L-Sis what it is.
I hope that every citizen will be able to do it.
⚠️ The guidelines for Basic Life Support are revised every few years, so I will add updates if new information becomes available.
April school board meeting. A discussion about the new employee training 'Emergency Life Saving' to be held in June.
I am the school board chair, after all.
'This sounds like a lie, but all the nurses who have BLS instructor certification are on leave. Who is going to be the instructor?'
'It has to be the assistant head nurse, obviously.'
Right, I had an instructor certification until a few years ago, but there are more instructors now, I wanted to study other things, the renewal fee is high and it's a waste, so I didn't renew it. It's been so long that I really can't handle being an instructor, and I was hoping everyone had forgotten about it, tee-hee. K-kun, who was my last resort, is also on leave. (It's not my fault this time, it's a hernia.)
The episode where K-kun appears ↓
'K-kun, after heartbreak, now a hernia? Are you cursed? Does having a BLS instructor certification get you cursed? I'm glad I didn't renew it.'
'If it's you, Assistant Head Nurse, the curse will run away, so you'll be fine.'
Idiot!
Dozens of new nurses
'Save the person who collapsed on the side of the road!'The training starts with this theme.
Me: 'Today's instructor is Himekusa, the assistant head nurse of the West Ward and a (former) BLS instructor. You all will save this doll. To make it feel realistic, let's give it a name. Uh, what should I do? Okay, from now on, this person isHyunkel.Please save Hyunkel.'
(What should I do... I don't particularly like Hyunkel, but it's easy to say, so I just ended up saying Hyunkel...)
Rustle...
'What is Hyunkel?' 'Why a foreigner!?' 'Who!?'
Hyunkel↑
'Hyunkel' is a character who appears in the manga 'The Adventure of Dai', a cool, justice-loving, handsome warrior. He is not particularly my favorite character.
Me: 'Yes, yes,Hyunkel hascollapsed on the side of the road. U-san, what do you do first?'
Newbie: 'Yes. First, I will tap their shoulders and shout loudly in their ear, 'Are you okay?'!'
Me: 'Correct. Here, shout as loudly as if you were saying, 'Everyone in Brazil!'' What do you do next? M-san.'
Newbie: 'I will shout loudly and call as many people as possible. Once people gather, I will have one person call an ambulance and have another person bring an AED if there is one nearby!'
The reason for bringing an AED is that if the person who collapsed has a lethal arrhythmia called 'ventricular fibrillation,' there is a possibility that their heartbeat can be restored through an electric shock. Defibrillation using an AED is considered the most effective response for ventricular fibrillation.
Me: 'Correct! After calling for help and arranging an AED, check if they are breathing. If they are, put them in the recovery position and watch over them nearby until the ambulance arrives! If they are not breathing, in current adult BLS,''chest compressions are prioritized, and artificial respiration is performed if possible,'so you don't have to do it, but if you were to do it, how many times? W-san.'
Newbie: 'Two artificial breaths.'
Me: 'Correct. Since you are all medical professionals, I will give you a lecture on artificial respiration just in case. Next, chest compression heart massage, how many times is this? A-san.'
The recovery position is a position where the injured person is laid on their side, their face is turned to the side, and the upper knee is bent to stabilize them. It might be easier to understand if you think of it as a position to prevent aspiration when vomiting.
⚠️ Regarding response when there is no breathing (presence or absence of artificial respiration)
[When a layperson performs it on an adult]
Artificial respiration is not mandatory. Focus on chest compressions (hands-only CPR).
Without proper technique, artificial respiration may not provide sufficient ventilation, and the survival rate may decrease due to the interruption of chest compressions becoming longer.
Therefore, if you are unsure, it is okay to prioritize chest compressions.
[When responding to medical professionals or children]
Since children and infants often reach cardiac arrest from 'respiratory arrest,' the importance of artificial respiration increases.
If possible, combine chest compressions and artificial respiration.
☑️ Adult: 30 chest compressions + 2 artificial breaths (30:2)
☑️ Child/Infant: 15:2 (especially when rescuing with two people)
※ Artificial respiration is physically and technically demanding, so perform it only when there are multiple rescuers. If you think you cannot do it properly, continue chest compressions.
For those who want to know, I will also write down how to perform artificial respiration at the bottom of the article.
Newbie: '30 times!'
Me: 'Then everyone, please try chest compressions in turn. The ratio of chest compressions to artificial respiration for adults is 30:2.'
Newbies: 'Yes!'
Me: 'S-san, do you think Hyunkel will come back to life with such weak chest compressions!? Chest compressions come from the hips! Lean your entire upper body over Hyunkel. Don't use arm strength; keep your shoulders, elbows, and wrists straight, like a rod that just transmits the power from your upper body, and try again! Push the chest to a depth of about 5-6 cm!'
There used to be complicated rules about where to press, but now you can just remember the center of the chest, on the line connecting the nipples. Since the primary goal of chest compressions is to maintain continuous cardiac output, body positioning is important. If you do it in an awkward position, you will get tired quickly. Conversely, if there are plenty of people to rotate with, or if you have strong arms, any way of pressing is fine.
(Anyway, I've been saying 'positioning' too much.)
Newbie: 'Yes!'
Me: 'The rhythm should be about 100 to 120 beats per minute. Now, T-san, what song is suitable for this rhythm?'
Newbie: 'Anpanman March, Doraemon's Song, Usagi to Kame, etc.!'
Newbie: 'AED has arrived!'
Me: 'Okay, let's attach the AED to Hyunkel.'
The AED will talk to you automatically, so just follow the instructions, but the key is to place the pads on the right chest (near the collarbone) and the left side (left side of the heart) 'so that they sandwich the heart.' Placing the right one on top and the left one on the bottom allows the electricity to flow through the heart efficiently. If the AED says, 'A shock is advised. Stand clear,' move away immediately. You will get shocked. If a shock is not advised, it will say, 'It is safe to touch the patient. Begin chest compressions immediately,' so follow those instructions. The AED will also determine whether a shock is needed, so you don't have to decide for yourself. Some AED models support languages other than Japanese.
Me: 'Hyunkel does not need a shock! Please repeat 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths! Save Hyunkel!.'
(Revive him until he can use Grand Cross!!)
Newbies: 'Yes! Save Hyunkel!'
She's a saint...
Even after reading this, you might think, 'I've never actually done it, and it's scary.' You might worry, 'What if their condition gets worse?' or 'Won't this cause complications?'
Even if you fail, you will not be held liable if your actions were intended to help. (Civil Code Article 698: Emergency Management of Affairs)
And the biggest taboo in emergency resuscitation is 'doing nothing.'
Even if there is no AED and no one else around, at least call an ambulance and perform chest compressions (cardiac massage).
You might also worry about breaking the ribs of an elderly person during chest compressions. Of course, it's better not to break them, but compared to the gravity of the heart stopping, the risk of a fracture is secondary. Let's prioritize saving a life.
A few days later, the head nurse gave me the post-training survey, saying, 'Assistant head nurse, the surveys are in. It seems like it was quite lively.'
'It was realistic and good.'
'I was curious about Hyunkel.'
'I searched for Hyunkel and now I want to watch Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai.'
'It was great that we all came together to save Hyunkel.'
If someone who read this article encounters someone collapsed on the street and decides to help, and if the number of Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai fans increases in the hospital, I will be happier than anything.
Decision Flowchart
You don't have to re-read the article; just take a screenshot and it will be useful in an emergency!
Recovery Position
🫁 For those of you wondering, 'How do you do rescue breaths?' (Bonus Edition)
This is all you need to know!
1. Pinch the victim's nose.
2. Cover their mouth firmly with your own (so there are no gaps).
3. Blow air for 1 second until the chest rises slightly x 2 times.
→ Then immediately do 30 chest compressions!
💡 Tip:
☑️ Don't blow too hard! (It will inflate their stomach.)
☑️ If the chest doesn't rise, re-check if your mouth is sealed and the airway is open.
☑️ If you think, 'I can't do it well...', it's okay to just do chest compressions!
When you hear 'rescue breaths,' you might think, 'Wait, I have to put my mouth on them!?' but you can use a pocket mask or face shield (protective gear) for infection control. (They will teach you how to use them in emergency training.)
Rescue breathing involves opening your mouth wide and sandwiching the patient's mouth, so it is completely different from kissing techniques.
You can take BLS training at fire stations, the Red Cross, etc.!
There are courses for medical professionals and the general public, but both will help you save Hyunkel!
Even if the man you love suddenly collapses, you will surely be able to save him.
Details here (Red Cross Official Website):
https://www.jrc.or.jp/activity/study/
Thank you for picking up my magazine✨
YOR
Rei Pichu-san
いいなと思ったら応援しよう！
温かなサポートをありがとうございます。頂いたお気持ちは、大切にしている保護猫たち🐈⬛🐈の健やかな暮らしと、より深い視点で記事をお届けするための研鑽（書籍・資格取得費用）に充てさせていただきます。皆様の心に届く言葉を磨けるよう、精進いたします。