At the completion of the course, GPs should be able to physically demonstrate CPR skills and knowledge on a manikin on the floor.
Relevance to General Practice
According to the RACGP’s Standards for general practices (4th edition), GPs must be ‘suitably qualified and trained and maintain the necessary knowledge and skills to provide good clinical care’.
GPs have a duty to respond to sudden cardiac arrest – they are expected to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedures in accordance with current ARC guidelines and techniques, without the assistance of specialist emergency services or equipment.
Participation in Basic Life Support training courses is known to increase bystander CPR and improve the outcomes of victims. Any attempt at resuscitation is better than no attempt and should be encouraged.
Evidence suggests the most important determinant of survival from sudden cardiac arrest is the presence of a trained rescuer who is ready, willing, able and equipped to act.
- Identify the indications for basic life support, conduct initial assessment of the patient and the scene and manage respiratory and/or cardiac arrest.
- Demonstrate competence in compression and ventilation skills including a minimum of mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing or bag-valve-mask.
- Demonstrate CPR skills on manikin on the floor following the DRSABCD steps.
- Assess and manage the airway including removal of any foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO).
Domains of General Practice
D1. Communication skills and the patient-doctor relationship
D2. Applied professional knowledge and skills
D3. Population health and the context of general practice
D4. Professional and ethical role
D5. Organisational and legal dimensions
Curriculum Contextual Units
- Adult health
- Care of older people
- Children and young people health
- Disaster management
This activity is also available on these dates