Ekwem Blessing Chinwendu

RN, RM, RPHN, BNSc

The Kano State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Bank Impact Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport (ReSMAT), has conducted a three-day Community First Aid Response (CFAR) training for health workers drawn from across the state.

The training exercise was declared open by the Programme Coordinator, Dr. Sharif Yahaya Musa.

Musa tasked the participants to put into best practice the knowledge gained from the exercise in the best interest of the development of the health sector in the state.

He encouraged the participants to take the training seriously and to put all they have learnt into practice.

Musa revealed that annually, thousands of people die, while others sustain severe injuries from various forms of accidents, adding that many of those deaths could be prevented if first aid was given before emergency services arrive.

He stated that first aid is the immediate and temporary care given to an ill or injured person. Its primary goals are to preserve life, prevent the condition from deteriorating, and promote recovery until medical help arrives.

Comrade Salisu Garba Ahmad, Senior Community Health Technician, in his presentation on first aid, pointed out that it is critical for health workers to acquire the skills required to perform CPR.

He added that it would serve immense communal value for non-health practitioners to also acquire the skills.

Salisu hinted that cases of mortality could be drastically reduced through the deployment of CPR care.

According to him, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving procedure performed on persons who are unresponsive and not breathing, applied through compression, airway management, breathing, and defibrillation.

He explained that members of the public should be enlightened on the skills of how to place persons in a state of unconsciousness, though still breathing, in a recovery position until help arrives, while maintaining proper observation to ensure they maintain normal breathing.

He said, “If someone is unconscious and not breathing normally, call the emergency number and start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) straight away.

“Check the scene for safety, form an initial impression, and use personal protective equipment (PPE).

“If the person appears unresponsive, check for responsiveness, breathing, life-threatening bleeding, or other life-threatening conditions using the shout-tap-shout method.

“If the person does not respond and is not breathing or is only gasping, call the emergency number and get equipment, or tell someone to do so.

“Kneel beside the person. Place the person on their back on a firm, flat surface. CPR guidelines recommend 100 to 120 chest compressions per minute, 30 at a time. Remember these five points:

“Two hands centred on the chest. Body position: shoulders directly over hands; elbows locked. Compression depth: at least 2 inches.

“Rate of compressions: 100 to 120 per minute. Allow the chest to return to its normal position after each compression. Give two breaths. Open the airway to a neutral position using the head-tilt/chin-lift technique. Pinch the nose shut, take a normal breath, and make a complete seal over the person’s mouth with your mouth.

“Ensure each breath lasts about one second and makes the chest rise; allow air to exit before giving the next breath.

“If the first breath does not cause the chest to rise, re-tilt the head and ensure a proper seal before giving the second breath. If the second breath does not make the chest rise, an object may be blocking the airway.

“Continue giving sets of 30 chest compressions and two breaths. Use an AED as soon as one is available. Minimise interruptions to chest compressions to less than 10 seconds.”

Comrade Salisu warned that serious measures are needed to ensure the safety of the first aider, as well as the safety of the client or victim, before performing or rendering any form of help.

Comrade Salisu disclosed that common emergencies that are prevalent and require immediate help include shock, heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke, bleeding, fractures and dislocations, acute asthmatic attacks, drowning, and choking.

While Dr. Mudassir went further to explain the following common emergencies and injuries, including diabetic emergencies, obstetrics and gynaecology emergencies, fainting attacks, snake bites, insect bites, poisoning, wounds, sprains, and strains.

Mallam Abubakar Musa demonstrated emergency positions, which are the recovery position, log roll, and HAINES position. He also explained some emergency moves, which are the fireman carry, piggyback method, dragging, chair lift method, two-handed seat, three-handed seat, four-handed seat, and crouching.

He lamented that there are challenges militating against the administration of first aid services in the state.

He stated that a major concern has arisen from inadequate training programmes for health workers on CPR services.

He said, “Inability of healthcare providers to put all they have learnt into practice. Lack of essential emergency equipment and drugs. Poor confidence among caregivers. Poor prompt decision-making by caregivers.

“Noting further that there is the challenge in the area of poorly equipped ambulances, inadequate ambulance services, a low number of ambulances in the state, and ambulances not being positioned in strategic places.”

He said that to tackle the challenges associated with CPR delivery, mass sensitisation is needed to address poor knowledge and skills on first aid measures.

He noted that advocacy and awareness campaigns are required to curb the low level of communication between communities and health facilities.

He called for the abolition of the current low priority being given to emergency services by all state and non-state actors, urging better collaboration with NGOs.

The participants reached the conclusion that, to move the state forward in the provision of CPR services, “continual refresher training should be conducted to build up the confidence of caregivers.

“Need for step-down training for other staff by trainees. Constant supervision to assess the level of competency. Provision of equipment and essential commodities for emergency services.

“Ensure a proper referral system when needed without delay. Ensure all equipment needed for the service is provided. Ambulance services should be available in all local government areas of the state and in some strategic places.

“Training of paramedics that will help handle emergency situations before arrival at the hospital. The ambulance driver should work in harmony with the emergency call centre.”

The public is adjudged to play a pivotal role in saving lives in the state through getting enlightened to understand that first aid care is everyone’s business and striving to work together with hospitals in their localities, while discouraging wrong traditional practices that endanger people’s lives.

It is emphasised that traditional healers need to work with orthodox medical practitioners to deliver accurate and adequate care.

The widespread dissemination of emergency call numbers in localities across the state for quick communication and response would help skyrocket the level of CPR service delivery in Kano.I limited the changes to grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure where necessary for correctness and readability.