First aid: what’s new?

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Every five years, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) reviews the latest science on first aid and resuscitation and updates treatment recommendations as necessary. Following the latest changes released in October 2015, the National First Aid Working Group reviewed the recommendations, agreed upon a consistent interpretation and established guidelines for Canada.

There are no major changes and nothing that affects the Society’s test items or “Must Sees.” There are a variety of tweaks and some new information, but importantly, there are no changes to the resuscitation standards for drowning victims. Your training remains effective in saving lives.

Updating the literature

Updates to the first aid and resuscitation content of the Society literature are being introduced as each publication comes up for reprint. The updated publications should be available next year. In few cases, a document will be inserted in the manual to present the changes. A summary of the changes that will be brought to the guides and manuals is available the extranet of the sauvetage.qc.ca/en Website. 

Lifesaving Society literature affected by the changes:

  • Canadian First Aid Manual
  • Canadian Lifesaving Manual
  • Alert: Lifeguarding in action
  • Bronze Medals Award Guide
  • National Lifeguard Award Guide 
  • Guide des certificats Soins d’urgence (in French only)
  • Premiers secours – Intervenant récréatif et sportif (in French only)

Instructors  

No mandatory provincial update clinic is needed to teach the new guidelines. The Lifesaving Society estimates that every instructor will be able to teach adequately the changes after getting acquainted with the Revised guidelines guide available on the extranet of sauvetage.qc.ca/en. 

Implementing the revised guidelines  

You may transition to the updated protocols when ready. The suggested changes are relatively minor and easily integrated by instructors. The revised content must be included in Lifesaving Society Emergency and Standard First Aid courses no later than January 1st, 2017.