Simply add oxygen: Why isn’t oxygen administration taught in all resuscitation training?

Abstract

Resuscitation training is all about procedures, yet the overwhelming need is to get sufficient oxygen to hypoxic and endangered tissues. Neither the Australian Resuscitation Council nor the American Heart Association make mention in any basic courses of the need to add oxygen as soon as possible. The Australian Resuscitation Council has a separate policy on oxygen, and the American Heart Association mentions the need, but not until page 2274 of the 1992 ‘Guidelines’. Major first aid training organisations do not mention the use of oxygen resuscitation in basic courses. There seems to be a belief in first aid training that oxygen administration is potentially dangerous and is an ‘Advanced’ skill. Oxygen should be used as soon as possible, in as near 100% as possible in all resuscitation situations, and for the early management of injury and illness. Its use will never disadvantage a patient under these circumstances. This skill should be added into all resuscitation training. In these days of high technology for all, we can easily add the simple skill of administration of oxygen, as soon as available, to basic life support and first aid. An oxygen supply should be as easily available as a fire extinguisher, and as simply used.