Australian Rescuers Fear New CPR Guideline Could Kill

SURF lifesavers have been told to dump the traditional ''kiss of life'' after 20 years in favour of radical new resuscitation techniques.

The controversial guidelines instruct lifesavers to immediately perform CPR on unconscious patients without first checking for a pulse.

The rate of breaths to chest compressions will change to a one-size-fits-all ratio of 2:30 at increased speed.

This contrasts with the old Australian method, which comprised five quick breaths followed by a series of two breaths and 15 compressions every 15 seconds.

The speed of compressions will almost double to 100 a minute.

Doctors, hospital staff and paramedics will also be forced to adopt the new method under sweeping changes introduced this month.

But professional lifeguards and paramedics fear the guidelines, which include not checking for a pulse, will put lives at risk.

They warn that performing chest compressions on someone who is alive and showing a pulse could interfere with their heart's rhythm, provoke cardiac arrest and ultimately kill them.

It could also cause serious heart damage and broken ribs.

Bondi head lifeguard Bruce Hopkins told The Sunday Telegraph he was worried about unnecessary deaths from incorrectly administered resuscitation on NSW beaches this summer.

''We will still be checking for a pulse,'' Mr Hopkins said.

''We haven't got a problem with the new rate (of breaths to compressions). What we do have a problem with is not checking for a pulse.

''It's your main tool when checking for signs of life.''

Mr Hopkins said it could be disastrous if well-meaning first-aid officers began compressing everyone who fainted on hot days or passed out from alcohol or drug use.

''If someone faints and a person comes over and starts pumping on their heart, it could kill them.''

Failing to check for a pulse would also make it hard to know when to stop performing CPR when patients came around.''

Instead of looking for a pulse, first-aid officers will be encouraged to look for ''signs of life'' such as breathing and physical movement.

The NSW ambulance service agreed that ignoring a pulse could have negative repercussions.

''Doing compressions may cause dysrhythmia,'' a spokesman said.

''Could that be dangerous? Yes, itcould.''

He said the changes were introduced to simplify resuscitation and prevent people wasting time looking for a pulse when they could be administering first aid.

The latest evidence shows it is better to give patients less oxygen by mouth-to-mouth and use more rapid heart compressions.

Checking the pulse was taught as the way of determining whether the patient needed CPR.

But Surf Lifesaving NSW director of lifesaving John Restuccia defended the new guidelines.

The State's voluntary beach rescuers welcomed the changes, Mr Restuccia said.

''It's an opportunity to make resuscitation a simpler process and waste less time looking for a pulse with more focus on getting blood circulating around the body and administering oxygen.''

The move was backed by extensive international research, he said.

The guidelines have been set by the Australian Resuscitation Council, which represents groups involved in the teaching and practice of resuscitation.

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