If you saw the initials DRS ABCD, would you know what they meant? Would you know that they were the seven steps to helping save someone suffering sudden cardiac arrest, or as it’s commonly known, a heart attack?

Local registered training organisation, Mines Rescue Pty Limited (RTO ID 90508), provides courses to give people skills to provide assistance in a medical emergency, including first aid and CPR, and offers more than 30 courses across a range of disciplines at its Moolarben site.

More than 25,000 Australians die every year from sudden cardiac arrest. It remains one of the leading causes of death in this country, and presents a frightening statistic for a medical event that can be prevented in a number of cases.

Some risks can’t be controlled, like age, ethnic background and a family history of heart disease, but others can. These include not smoking, managing high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and being physically active. Being overweight, depression, social isolation, a lack of quality support and diabetes can contribute to increased risk of heart disease.

That statistics around deaths from sudden cardiac arrest gets worse when you consider only nine per cent of people who have a cardiac arrest outside of hospital in Australia, actually survive. In contrast, in some parts of the United States, the survival rate is around 60 per cent. 

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The difference is simple. These areas promote and train people in first aid and resuscitation, because time and knowledge are critical. Proper First Aid and CPR training can help you recognise that a person has collapsed and stopped breathing. It teaches you what DRS ACBD stands for, and how to administer each step. 

Danger (remove patient from danger). Response (check for response if patient is alert or unconscious). Send for help (call 000 if needed). Airway (check for obstructions to airway). Breathing (check if patient is breathing). CPR (commence CPR if necessary). Defibrillation (source and apply defibrillation if needed).

By completing a First Aid or CPR course, you can learn to recognise signs that someone is in trouble, which include pain and discomfort in the chest; pale, cool sweating skin; and shortness of breath.

Visit www.coalservices.com.au/training or call on 4922 4400.