Welcome to the Australian Resuscitation Advisory Network (ARAN)
Basic Life Support (BLS) is the entry level for many to first aid and resuscitation who are acting in a non-professional capacity. This range from private citizens, people working in industry and business who have a role under WHS; and volunteers. Although a vital part in the chain of survival and in implementing potentially life-saving care prior to professional assistance it does not (by definition) have access to advanced equipment, medications or often human assistance immediately. These factors mean that improvisation and adaption to the circumstances are also a vital part of effectiveness. Unlike more advanced clinical care, BLS is not tied by strict protocol and policy, legislation or law and there is not the same amount of specific research as there is in other fields of science. Despite the unique nature of BLS, recommended techniques and methods are not always appropriate or practical solutions to it's unique challenges and are often decided upon by those without experience in BLS provision or training. The other important factor in the techniques and methods used in BLS is "common-sense" and there are many examples, even today , of recommendations that fail this most basic of tests, both in training and in the real world. The most critical things missing from BLS practice and recommendations are innovation and any real mechanism to assess if recommendations are actually have efficacy in training and implementation. This is largely assumed based on the eminence of those making the recommendations. Much of what is included in guidelines is opinion and this varies depending on ones interpretation of the evidence (or in the absence of evidence just an opinion. National and International BLS guidelines (all developed by experts) can vary significantly as opinion varies between individuals and organisations. One only has to look at the BLS components of Paramedic or Hospital-based practice to realise that variations in techniques and recommended actions vary and do not necessarily follow ARC advice.
In Australia the disclaimer that appears on the ARC website describes that the ARC guidelines are not written to be definitive or absolute in every circumstance.
"The Guidelines represent the consensus of opinion of representatives of the constituent bodies of the Australian Resuscitation Council, based on their clinical experience and evaluation of scientific literature. They are of general application, and may not be relevant to particular circumstances or situations. Specific advice should be obtained in relation to individual circumstances or situations. Neither the Council, nor its officers or members accept responsibility to any other person on any grounds, or for events or circumstances which may occur as a result of the implementation or non-implementation of these policies....Guidelines are produced after consideration of all available scientific and published material and are only issued after acceptance by all member organisations. This does not imply, however, that methods other than those recommended are ineffective - ARC
The Australian Resuscitation Advisory Network is a voluntary, non-profit association and was developed in 2015 and launched in 2016 to promote better outcomes from out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) through advocacy, community education and promotion of innovation in resuscitation practice..
The formation of ARAN was in part a response to the falling survival rates in Australia, dissatisfaction with the efficacy of some recommendations in Australia for BLS, non-professionals in the community. Additionally, ARAN was in response to the huge void in public education, support and advocacy (at a Federal, State and Local Government level) for improving survival rates from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).
Unfortunately, the falling survival rates are, in part, due to the current BLS advice and education (that is sometimes contrary to international resuscitation recommendations) and can be out of touch with the realities and challenges of out-of-hospital care by non-professionals.
It was necessary, therefore, to provide an alternative platform for the advancement of new ideas and approaches in Australia, on matters of BLS resuscitation, to improve outcomes and re-focus the efforts of rescuers on a common sense approach to resuscitation.
The guidance given by ARAN, likewise, represent the consensus of opinion and industry experience, clinical experience in training and performing resuscitation on out-of-hospital victims of cardiac arrest, the evaluation of scientific literature and interpretation of resuscitation data and trends worldwide.
Basic Life Support (BLS) is the entry level for many to first aid and resuscitation who are acting in a non-professional capacity. This range from private citizens, people working in industry and business who have a role under WHS; and volunteers. Although a vital part in the chain of survival and in implementing potentially life-saving care prior to professional assistance it does not (by definition) have access to advanced equipment, medications or often human assistance immediately. These factors mean that improvisation and adaption to the circumstances are also a vital part of effectiveness. Unlike more advanced clinical care, BLS is not tied by strict protocol and policy, legislation or law and there is not the same amount of specific research as there is in other fields of science. Despite the unique nature of BLS, recommended techniques and methods are not always appropriate or practical solutions to it's unique challenges and are often decided upon by those without experience in BLS provision or training. The other important factor in the techniques and methods used in BLS is "common-sense" and there are many examples, even today , of recommendations that fail this most basic of tests, both in training and in the real world. The most critical things missing from BLS practice and recommendations are innovation and any real mechanism to assess if recommendations are actually have efficacy in training and implementation. This is largely assumed based on the eminence of those making the recommendations. Much of what is included in guidelines is opinion and this varies depending on ones interpretation of the evidence (or in the absence of evidence just an opinion. National and International BLS guidelines (all developed by experts) can vary significantly as opinion varies between individuals and organisations. One only has to look at the BLS components of Paramedic or Hospital-based practice to realise that variations in techniques and recommended actions vary and do not necessarily follow ARC advice.
In Australia the disclaimer that appears on the ARC website describes that the ARC guidelines are not written to be definitive or absolute in every circumstance.
"The Guidelines represent the consensus of opinion of representatives of the constituent bodies of the Australian Resuscitation Council, based on their clinical experience and evaluation of scientific literature. They are of general application, and may not be relevant to particular circumstances or situations. Specific advice should be obtained in relation to individual circumstances or situations. Neither the Council, nor its officers or members accept responsibility to any other person on any grounds, or for events or circumstances which may occur as a result of the implementation or non-implementation of these policies....Guidelines are produced after consideration of all available scientific and published material and are only issued after acceptance by all member organisations. This does not imply, however, that methods other than those recommended are ineffective - ARC
The Australian Resuscitation Advisory Network is a voluntary, non-profit association and was developed in 2015 and launched in 2016 to promote better outcomes from out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) through advocacy, community education and promotion of innovation in resuscitation practice..
The formation of ARAN was in part a response to the falling survival rates in Australia, dissatisfaction with the efficacy of some recommendations in Australia for BLS, non-professionals in the community. Additionally, ARAN was in response to the huge void in public education, support and advocacy (at a Federal, State and Local Government level) for improving survival rates from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).
Unfortunately, the falling survival rates are, in part, due to the current BLS advice and education (that is sometimes contrary to international resuscitation recommendations) and can be out of touch with the realities and challenges of out-of-hospital care by non-professionals.
It was necessary, therefore, to provide an alternative platform for the advancement of new ideas and approaches in Australia, on matters of BLS resuscitation, to improve outcomes and re-focus the efforts of rescuers on a common sense approach to resuscitation.
The guidance given by ARAN, likewise, represent the consensus of opinion and industry experience, clinical experience in training and performing resuscitation on out-of-hospital victims of cardiac arrest, the evaluation of scientific literature and interpretation of resuscitation data and trends worldwide.
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Current BLS guidelines are targeted at a healthy young adult who drowns while eating a meat pie and suffers a cardiac arrest.
This however is not a very likely event in Australia. In fact the drowning account for < 1% of all cardiac arrests. The most common cardiac arrest will always be the Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) were immediate ventilations and delays to summoning help, good compressions and early defibrillation may significantly decrease survival. |