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Signa vitae : journal for intesive care and emergency medicine, Vol. 9 No. 2, 2014.

Original scientific paper

CPR quality reduced due to physical fatigue after a water rescue in a swimming pool

ANA CATARINA QUEIROGA ; Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences, University of Vigo, Campus a Xunqueira, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain
ROBERTO BARCALA-FURELOS ; Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences, University of Vigo, Campus a Xunqueira, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain
CRISTIAN ABELAIRAS-GOMEZ ; Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences, University of Vigo, Campus a Xunqueira, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain
JOSÉ LUIS GARCÍA-SOIDÁN ; Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences, University of Vigo, Campus a Xunqueira, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain

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Abstract

Objective. This study aimed to analyse the influence of physical fatigue, resulting from a simulated aquatic rescue, at a
swimming pool, on the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) delivered by the rescuer.
Design, setting and participants. An intragroup design with 27 lifeguards was used in this study. The quality of CPR delivery
was evaluated for two minutes for all subjects while they were at rest (test 1), as well as after a simulated aquatic rescue at
a swimming pool (test 2). A Resusci Anne® SkillReporter™ (Laerdal Medical Limited, Norway) manikin was used to retrieve
reports on CPR delivery, compliant with the most recent international guidelines (30:2, chest compression: ventilation
ratio).
Results. Rescue-related physical fatigue had a significant influence on the total number of chest compressions as well as on
the ratio of correct chest compressions. Physical fatigue triggered by a swimming pool water rescue negatively influenced
CPR delivery quality. These results show that the detrimental effects of physical fatigue on CPR delivery remain important,
even in a swimming pool environment.
Conclusions. Training programs should reflect this finding, and focus on enabling lifeguards to deliver proper CPR, even
while exhausted and for long periods of time.

Keywords

emergency medicine; drowning; resuscitation

Hrčak ID:

134212

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/134212

Publication date:

1.10.2014.

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