ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a reminder for the knowledge gained on the full first aid courses and explains emergency first aid in survival situations. Whilst all offshore workers will have a basic knowledge of first aid techniques, specialist medical support is provided through the offshore medic who has access to medication and facilities to treat injured and look after others who require initial medical treatment. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a first aid technique that can be used for casualties who are not breathing properly, have stopped breathing or their heart has stopped. The objective for CPR is to ensure exchange of CO2 and oxygen continues in the lungs to avoid causing brain death due to lack of oxygen. Circum-rescue collapse is phenomenon that may occur just before, during or shortly after rescue. Causes of this include a reduction in the body's ability to maintain temperature resulting from improper heart function or loss of blood pressure due to post-immersion problems.
