"The helmet has to come off"

Created: 09/09/2022, 18:02

By: Christiane Breitenberger

How to do it right: Michael Karlstetter demonstrates resuscitation.

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Dachau – 31 years with the BRK Dachau, ten years of which in a leading position in training, around 400 training courses a year – when the man talks about first aid, he knows what he is talking about.

Michael Karlstetter (49) knows the big problems when it comes to first aid.

In an interview on World First Aid Day this Saturday, he gives tips for laypeople and clears up a major misconception.

In an ideal world, everyone should be able to help everyone without major blunders - what about reality?

Basically anyone can help, it's in our DNA.

The problem is usually: The last first aid course was 30 years ago, the unjustified fear of making mistakes is too great.

In our nine-hour seminars, however, we actually get people to say: I can do it!

Let's be realistic: Not everyone who needs it will take a refresher course.

What emergency basics can you give these people on the fly?

Not helping is not only the worst thing, but also a punishable offence.

Notifying the emergency number of 112 is the minimum.

But beyond that: address the person, simply introduce yourself by name, carefully touch the person lying there and see: is the person approachable or not.

Let's say the person no longer talks to us, is not responsive, what then?

Then there are two forks in the road: either he's still breathing or he's not.

A person who no longer speaks to me but is still breathing needs: The stable lateral position so that - in the event of vomiting - they do not suffocate.

It's not about the perfect shape.

Simply turn on your side, the important thing is that the stomach is higher than the mouth so that the vomit can drain off and that the head is in an overstretched position so that the tongue cannot fall back.

Then you have already done everything right.

It is more difficult when the person is not breathing.

Then I have to resuscitate, but we'll get to that in a moment.

Good.

What is the essential thing I need to know in an emergency?

So what I can observe: the small things like burns, bleeding, people are good at that, intuitively doing the right thing.

So in the case of bleeding, for example, something on where it bleeds out.

However, there are two major sticking points:

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Let's talk about the biggest difficulty first:

That's CPR until the ambulance comes.

Many do not dare to do this, but: As soon as a person is no longer breathing, he has to be resuscitated.

Instantly!

After all, every minute that nothing happens during cardiac arrest reduces the chance of survival by ten percent!

The person is technically dead at the moment, they will stay that way if I don't do anything.

I don't have to be particularly good at math to know that after ten minutes it's over.

What exactly do I have to do when resuscitating?

Press down two to six centimeters twice per second in the center of the chest.

And if I dare, breathe.

Many think they can't hold out long enough for the emergency services to come and are afraid they don't have enough strength.

Is this fear justified?

Not at all.

In 90 percent of all cases you know the person who is in front of you in an emergency.

Very few can imagine the forces, the adrenaline that we release in such cases.

What role does the defibrillator play in layperson resuscitation?

If one is nearby, it should definitely be used.

The most important thing: you can NOT do anything wrong - the box tells you exactly what to do.

With a defibrillator you can really change something in a very high percentage - not in every case, but in many cases it can save lives.

Do you know how many people survived an emergency like this?

Every person who survived a cardiac arrest in the district of Dachau survived because a first responder responded. 120 reanimations.

Some of them survived without damage.

What is the second biggest problem in first aid?

A misconception that unfortunately still circulates when it comes to the question: should I remove the helmet of an unconscious motorcyclist?

Correct is: Yes, absolutely!

It is frightening how many people here are unfortunately misinformed.

The helmet has to come off!

If I don't do that, I'm endangering people's lives.

Do you know of an impressive practical example?

On my day off I came to the scene of an accident, many people were already there, a motorcyclist was lying there with a helmet, not responsive.

A lot of people immediately yelled, "Don't move!" When I tried to take off my helmet, people got even more upset.

Then I took off my helmet, craned my head and: I heard him suddenly take a deep breath.

I knew then that he was finally breathing again.

The man had several broken bones and a concussion - which left him unconscious.

So the question arises: what would have happened if I hadn't been shopping?

Then he would have suffocated.

This showed that as a first responder, you must not allow yourself to be influenced from outside.

How do I stay calm in an emergency?

Calm comes with routine and routine comes with first aid classes.

But the most important thing is: First of all, offer help, make small talk.

For example, holding hands until the rescuers come - that calms me and the victim.

When do people typically first come into contact with a first aid course?

With the driver's license.

Isn't that...

... far too late!

Yes of course!

That has to happen much sooner.

Especially since the people who are just getting their driver's license primarily want to learn how to drive and not how to save people.

In kindergarten you can teach the little ones a lot of little first aid.

Soothe, comfort, keep warm, lie on your side or put on a plaster.

Everything works great and the children don't forget it anymore.

You can clearly catch up at the schools, there is a need to catch up here.

How often should people take a first aid course?

Every five years.

Most of them only do their course for their driver's license, after five years, if you are no longer confronted with it, the knowledge is gone.

Let's say I have to make an 911 call, what does it matter?

The most important thing: don't worry about forgetting something, the control center will ask everything they need to know.

And don't just hang up, on the one hand because of the queries, on the other hand because the control center sometimes gives tips on what to do before the emergency services arrive.

There are emergency numbers, 112 and 116117 – when do I dial what?

Very roughly: If someone turns blue, is not breathing, is in severe pain, is bleeding heavily or a part of the body is broken, then I dial 112. If you have a cough, runny nose and other things that you would normally go to the family doctor for, dial 112 I call 116117 the medical on-call service.

There I find out, I find out which doctor is on duty that I can come to, or he will come by.

The interview was conducted by: Christiane Breitenberger