Recommendations for Life-Supporting First-Aid Training of the Lay Public for Disaster Preparedness

Abstract

In catastrophic disasters such as major earthquakes in densely populated regions, effective Life-Supporting First-Aid (LSFA) and basic rescue can be administered to the injured by previously trained, uninjured survivors (co victims). Administration of LSFA immediately after disaster strikes can add to the overall medical response and help to diminish the morbidity and mortality that result from these events. Widespread training of the lay public also may improve bystander responses in everyday emergencies. However, for this scheme to be effective, a significant percentage of the lay population must learn the eight basic steps of LSFA. These have been developed by the International Resuscitation Research Center in collaboration with the World Association for Emergency and Disaster Medicine, the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety, and the American Red Cross (Pennsylvania chapter). They include: 1) scene survey; 2) airway control; 3) rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth); 4) circulation (chest compressions; may be omitted for disasters, but should be retained for everyday bystander response); 5) abdominal thrusts for choking (may be omitted for disasters, but retained for everyday bystander response); 6) control of external bleeding; 7) positioning for shock; and 8) call for help.

First-Aid Training and Capabilities of the Lay Public: A Potential Alternative Source of Emergency Medical Assistance Following a Natural Disaster

“…In California, the government expects residents to be self-sufficient for the first 72 hours after an earthquake (California Governor's Office of Emergency Preparedness, n.d.). Thus, several researchers have recommended that members of the lay public receive first-aid training in order to develop a community's capability to provide basic medical assistance during the immediate post-disaster phase until professional assistance becomes available (Angus et al, 1993;Angus et al, 1997;Crippen, 2001;Roces et al, 1992).…”

Spinal Cord Injuries as a Result of Earthquakes: Lessons From Iran and Pakistan

“…The opportunity to save life and minimize impairment may be dependent on educating the personnel who are likely to respond to disasters in the region. Widespread training of the lay public in basic rescue and life-supporting first aid could improve outcomes in the face of disasters, whether in developing countries or North America (9).…”

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“…Environmental cataclysms will be with mankind even after we have learned to prevent man-made disasters. Prior to the Katrina hurricane, disaster planning, preparedness and responses were mostly theoretical and based on our preconceived notions of what a disaster should be [ 1 ]. Mostly untested except on relative small scales.…”