February 2003, Volume 25, No. 2
Letter to the Editor

An aid to basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

M S H Chan 陳選豪

Dear Editor

It is of professional interest for medical practitioners to perform basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The world trend for simulation training in crisis and emergency management is gathering attention.1,2 The CPR workshops conducted by the Hong Kong College of Family Physicians likewise have received warm welcome by the attendants. It is a common learning experience that general practitioners take time to familiarise themselves with the correct steps when performing basic CPR. Indeed, an editorial of a renowned international journal has advocated guidelines that are easy to teach, learn and remember.3 I have designed a mnemonic aid to help one to memorise the essential steps. It consists of 7 short sentences in English and in Chinese, aiming for easier recall during practice and emergency situation.

The English version reads:

Wake up! Wake up! You OK!
Someone fainted. Please give help!
Pose well, loosen clothes, check the mouth;
Tilt head, lift chin, feel the breath.
No breath, 10 second 999.
2 breaths, check pulse, CPR.
Save life 22159.

The Chinese version reads as:

先生先生你醒醒
有人暈請幫手
擺位鬆衣清理口
傾額托顎聽呼吸
10秒無氣999
吹氣頸脈心外壓
救人 22159

The content is self-explanatory with sequence following the accepted local and international recommendatons.4,5 It begins with assessment for unconsciousness, shout for help, positioning the patient (and the rescuer), followed by checking the patient's airway and breathing. It also bears in mind the urgency to activate EMS (Emergency Medical Services, calling telephone number 999 locally) and initiate ventilation when patient found to have no breathing; carotid pulse is checked and its absence leads to commencement of external cardiac massage. The last sentence 22159 refers to 2 ventilations for 2 seconds each and 15 compressions lasting 9 seconds.

While there is no replacement for proper training and practice in CPR technique, a mnemonic aid in rapid recall of sequence could be of help.

M S H Chan, MBBS(UNSW), DFM(CUHK)
MBBS(HK), FHKCFP, FHKAM(Family Medicine)
General Practitioner.

References
  1. Lee TW. Some aspects of anesthesiology. Editorial. HKMJ 2002;8:73-74.
  2. Wong SH, Ng KF, Chen PP. The application of clinical simulation in crisis management training. HKMJ 2002;8:131-135.
  3. Nolan J, Gwinnutt C. 1998 European guidelines on resuscitation. BMJ 1998;316:1844-1845.
  4. So HY. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation for general practitioners. HK Pract 1995;17:361-369.
  5. Basic life support working group of the European Resuscitation Council. Guidelines for adult single rescuer basic life support. BMJ 1998;316:1870-1876.