Spread the love

Contributed

Bladen County EMS Captain Shelton Lewis had the opportunity to help out the local Boy Scout troop here in Elizabethtown with first aid classes.

One of the scoutmasters that knows Shelton made contact with him about trying to find someone to teach the boy scout youth about basic first aid. The troop really wanted to give an opportunity to the scouts to earn their basic first aid badge. Shelton volunteered his time after work, on Tuesday nights for three weeks to teach basic first aid to Troop 600 scouts here in Elizabethtown.

The scouts were taught proper first-aid procedures and possible prevention measures for dehydration, frostbite, and heat injuries. These young scouts were also instructed on fracture splinting and hemorrhage control. Captain Lewis also taught them how to recognize sudden cardiac arrest and the steps to properly perform hands-only CPR. They were also taught the importance of using an automated external defibrillator (AED) if available.

First aid training provides children with a vital knowledge base for dealing with any medical emergencies they may face. For older children and teenagers, a first aid course can really boost their confidence, so they feel fully prepared should they or their friends need first-line medical help.

According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 70 percent of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home. Hands-Only CPR carried out by a bystander has been shown to be as effective as CPR with breaths in the first few minutes during an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest for an adult victim. CPR does not restart a person’s heart, but it’s a crucial step in the chain of survival. CPR keeps blood circulating until the person’s heart can be shocked back into a normal rhythm with an automated external defibrillator (AED). Although emergency personnel will bring and use a defibrillator, bystanders must be trained to obtain and use a public-access AED if we want to have the most favorable outcomes.