CPR training and Coronavirus in Ireland

COVID-19

The Irish Heart Foundation has released updated guidelines to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

The main advice for training sites at the moment would be to stop mouth-to-mouth practice. The course DVDs should be played as usual but instead of practicing mouth-to-mouth, instructors should skip the lesson and move onto the next component – allow students to watch the section but do not practice it.

Course completion cards can be awarded as usual to students who fully complete the courses, as the skillsheets for all courses require successful demonstration of breaths with a barrier device – they are happy to certify all successful students.

This is in addition to the following routine manikin hygiene practices:

• All manikins and training equipment need to be cleaned after class to reduce potential disease transmission
• Follow manufacturers’ instructions (there are several types of manikins on the market)
• Equipment always needs to be clean and in working order
• Students and instructors should practice good hand hygiene
• Students and instructors should continue with the normal practice of cleaning even when using face shields
• Students/ instructors should wipe manikins after each student with manikin wipes with 70% alcohol – baby wipes are NOT suitable for cleaning manikins.