Young woman from Secunda believes CPR knowledge is essential

What started as basic first aid training at age 16 turned into life-saving action for Janey-Lee Erasmus and her beloved gran.

Even if it’s the basic training, first aid is a must-know in any household and workplace. Janey-Lee Erasmus (20) used her basic first aid training on her late grandmother, Emily Erasmus, three times.

She explains to the Ridge Times the importance of learning life-saving skills, as it could save a life. Emily was the one who suggested that Janey-Lee learn basic life support. She obtained her NQF level one first aid through Mavcorp when she was 16 years old.

“At first, it was a learning experience and I never thought much about it,” said Janey-Lee.

However, a year later, Emily, who suffered from heart complications, stopped breathing and had no pulse while she, Janey-Lee, Nadia (Janey-Lee’s mother), and a family friend were driving. Janey-Lee proceeded with CPR while the friend continued to drive to a hospital.

“I had to think fast. I put her seat back for her to lie flat and began CPR. It was stressful because we were in a vehicle. I remembered the sequence of a flat surface, keeping the airway open and administering CPR,” said Janey-Lee.

She did about 20 minutes of CPR, and by the time they had reached the hospital, Emily had responded.

“She began to talk and asked what had happened? She didn’t even want to go into the hospital,” said Janey-Lee.

The second time was a month later at home, when Emily called for Janey-Lee and told her she was not feeling well.

“I could see my grandmother was blue around the mouth and not responding. I knew I had to apply CPR again,” said Janey-Lee.

She continued with CPR and revived Emily. An ambulance took Emily to a hospital.

“This time was more emotional for me because I broke two of her ribs. I felt extremely bad about that, but it saved her life, and she came back.”
Had Janey-Lee not applied CPR, her grandmother would have died.

Six months later, Emily stopped breathing. Janey-Lee again applied CPR; however, it was Emily’s time.

“This time, I could not help her. She called out my name, and my thought was that we had been through this before, so I proceeded with CPR until the paramedics arrived. But there was nothing we could do. The Lord decided it was her time,” said Janey-Lee.

Nadia and Janey-Lee’s grandfather, Kiewiet, was also at the house. She said she could not just sit back and do nothing, and at least she knows she tried.

Janey-Lee now has her level 3 advanced emergency first aid responder certification through MavCorp.

“Janey-Lee’s attempt is massive. Her training and the sequences kicked in,” said Melané Hammond of MavCorp.

MavCorp follows the American Heart Association on resuscitation.

“According to its statistics, the number one cause of death is heart disease. It claims more lives than all cancers combined. Every 90 seconds globally, someone is having cardiac arrest, and it commonly happens at home or in public,” said Melané.

She said it is important to learn first aid skills because it can make the difference between life and death until paramedics arrive.

Melané explained that humans breathe in 21% oxygen, and when applying mouth-to-mouth, we give in 17% oxygen.

“To get the blood circulating, immediately apply compressions of 30 counts, hard and fast, then two breaths. Do this for five cycles. Then reassess. If there’s no pulse, no breathing, continue with CPR. Compressions are the main part of a resuscitation.”

Melané said you only have 10 seconds between breathing into a patient and proceeding with compressions. The basic first aid training teaches early recognition, early CPR, and early defibrillation.

One begins resuscitation when a person is not responding, not breathing and has no pulse.

“Once you have checked for these signs and there are none, do not hesitate; immediately apply CPR. Do not stop,” said Melané.

The rule for resuscitation of when to STOP is when:
S – spontaneous breathing (patient is breathing);
T – too dangerous to continue (paramedics’ or responders’ lives are in danger);
O – out of breath;
P – paramedics arrive.

“I am an intermediate life support medical practitioner, American Heart Association instructor and assessor, who has been doing this for 16 years, and I have never done a successful resuscitation.

“Not because my methods are different, but because in all the resuscitations that I came across, no one began prior resuscitation. Successful ones are when someone begins immediate compressions until advanced medical personnel arrive,” said Melané.

She said even if you received prior training, it does not mean that in a real emergency, you will be able to apply it; however, picking up a phone and calling for help is already helping the patient.

“You could save a person’s life. I highly recommend first aid training. It helped save the person I loved the most twice,” concluded Janey-Lee.