A knowledge of life-saving

Jan 05, 2014 Editorial

The days of learning important survival life skills have apparently been forgotten. This view is supported by the recent demise of little Ronita ‘Pinky’ Erskine who from all indications choked to death on a food particle despite valiant efforts to save her.
At the outset it should be stated that based upon the reported version of events back blows formed the principal method of first aid but this proved futile. Incidentally in 1985 the American Heart Association removed this method from choking-rescue guidelines. It seems that no one tried the tried and tested Heimlich Manoeuvre to dislodge the offending foreign object. As a matter of opinion no one on the scene seemed to have any more than rudimentary knowledge of what to do in the circumstances. What should one do in the event that a child (or anyone for that matter) is in danger of suffering the same fate as that little girl?
This brings us to the fact that these days no emphasis seems to be placed on the teaching of first aid in the schools curricula. The nearest students come to anything remotely resembling this subject is in Health and Family Life Education (HFLE).
In past times interested persons became involved with the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade (SJAB) which for a long time was ardently supported by police physician Dr. Wharton. Even more recently, aspiring health care workers joined classes at the Guyana Red Cross (GRC).
Of course nowadays, the average under thirty-something person might not know (or care) what SJAB is or does. On the other hand the GRC is more familiarly known for its work in disaster relief and other altruistic endeavours.
The Smellie Cup competed for annually by units of the Guyana Police Force is the only other first-aid event whose repertoire of activities does not appear to extend to Heimlich Manoeuvres. Having said all of that, what exactly can be done or should at least be attempted to at least give a choking person a fighting chance of survival?
The Heimlich Manoeuvre, named after American thoracic surgeon, Henry Judah Heimlich, is the most common technique used safely to save choking adults and children above the age of one year old. It can also be self-performed. However anyone applying this method is strongly urged to call 911 even after the object would have been dislodged. Persons interested in learning this proven effective method of survival are advised to consult with the GRC, the SJAB – if it is still functioning, or with online resources like Harvard Medical Journal, Medline Plus, or any other authentic verifiable means.
People owe it to themselves to make every effort to acquire the necessary knowledge to prevent unnecessary loss. We probably need to expand our young people’s awareness of the importance of becoming scouts and guides and in that respect the Guyana Police Force must be commended for its work in that area.
However, more to the point, it should be the expectation of everyone living within these borders to be issued with victim-prevention advisories by the relevant authorities on personal health, home and occupational safety in the areas of crime, fire, road and riverine traffic.
We need to see people being told about the hazards in their daily lives, the dangers of which are outside of their experiences. In much the same way that millions have been expended on issues like AIDS awareness serious concern must also be brought to bear on others not much less severe.
To have these quite realistic expectations unrealised or ignored continually is an abdication of social responsibility, denial of a social conscience, and an affront to the survivors of those like little Pinkie who have needlessly suffered or perished through not only ignorance of the appropriate preventive measures, but by not being afforded the opportunity to be advised on them and being prepared accordingly.

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