DRSABCD

The DRSABCD Action Plan is a 7- step approach that we encourage parents and carers to use when faced in ANY medical situation. Medical staff in the emergency department and paramedics out on the road are following this simple systematic approach. If you can stay calm and work your way through the DRSABCD action plan, we guarantee you will get through any situation. 

D – Dangers?

Check for dangers to self, bystanders and the casualty.

R – Responsive?

Check for response – Talk and Touch.

S – Send for Help

Call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance, or ask a bystander to CALL for help, or go get help.

 

A – Open Airway

Position casualty onto their back. Open mouth and ensure airway is clear.

 

Open/Check Airway:

• Infant – Head tilt/chin lift – Neutral Position
• Child – Head tilt/chin lift – Sniffing Position
• Adult – Full Head tilt/chin lift

 

To clear foreign material from the mouth cavity, roll casualty onto their side and use your fingers. (Infant little finger, child index finger, adult two fingers). * Only if object is easily visible and accessible in the mouth, taking great care not to push it down further.

If the object is too far back and in the ‘danger zone’ of the airway, Do NOT attempt to pick it out. In the height of stress any attempts to remove an object ‘to far back’ can have a devastating effect on a child’s airway.

 

B – Normal Breathing?

• Look, Listen and Feel.
• Absent or NOT normal breathing = Start CPR
• Normal breathing = place in recovery position, monitor.

 

C – Start CPR (30:2)

Give 30 chest compressions, followed by 2 breaths.

Chest Compressions : 30

• Compress centre of the chest, nipple line good reference for paediatrics.
• Infants (0-12mths) – Use 2 fingers (index and middle) to compress 1/3 depth of chest.
• Child – Use heel of one hand to compress 1/3 depth of chest.
• Adult – Use both hands to compress 1/3 depth of chest.
• Compressions should be at a rate of approximately 100/min (2 per second).

Breaths : 2

During breaths, open airway and maintain the following head positions:

• Infant – Head tilt/chin lift – Neutral Position – Cover both nose/mouth, and deliver 2 puffs.
• Child – Head tilt/chin lift – Sniffing Position – Pinch nose, cover mouth and deliver 2 half breaths.
• Adult – Full Head tilt/chin lift – Pinch nose, cover mouth and deliver 2 full breaths.

Continue CPR until responsiveness or normal breathing occurs.

 

D – Attach Defibrillator (AED)

As soon as available and follow voice prompts. Ensure help is coming.

Our KidzAid workshops are very hands on and interactive. We guarantee you will walk away feeling confident and empowered in paediatric first aid. We cannot stress enough how essential it is to practice these techniques on our real-life baby and child manikins.