October 16, 2025

Steven Bentley

Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) Considers how to run a safe, correct adult CPR sequence under real-world maintenance conditions

What to Do

  • Make the area safe: stop vehicles, isolate power, clear tools, move away from fuel vapours or wet floors.
  • Check: if the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call 999/112 and send for the AED (see next section)
  • Start compressions: centre of chest, 5–6 cm deep, 100–120 per minute. If trained, give 30 compressions then 2 breaths.
  • Use the AED: switch on, attach pads to bare dry chest, follow prompts, loudly say “Stand clear!” before analysis or shock.
  • Swap roles every 2 minutes: quick handover, minimal pause.
  • Keep going: until the person breathes normally, help takes over, or it is unsafe to continue.

What Not to Do

  • Don’t waste time checking for a pulse.
  • Don’t delay compressions while hunting for equipment.
  • Don’t lean on the chest or compress on a soft/wet surface.
  • Don’t touch the person during AED analysis or shock.
  • Don’t place AED pads over medicine patches, implants, or wet/hairy areas without fixing.
  • Don’t use the AED in fuel vapours or with live electrics active.

Core sequence (the “golden thread” you always follow)

  1. Check safety (you, team, casualty, environment). Kill hazards: stop vehicles, isolate power (LOTO if relevant), move tools/fluids, watch for fuel vapours.
  2. Check response & breathing (≤10 sec). If unresponsive and not breathing normally (ignore agonal gasps), treat as cardiac arrest. Call 999/112 (speakerphone). Send someone for the AED.
  3. Start chest compressions on a firm surface: centre of chest, depth 5–6 cm, rate 100–120/min, full recoil, minimise pauses.
    • Person on their back on a firm surface.
    • Hands in the centre of the chest.
    • Push down 5–6 cm and let the chest come all the way back up.
    • Keep a steady beat: about 100–120 pushes per minute (roughly two per second).
  4. If trained and willing, give 30 compressions : 2 rescue breaths and repeat. If not, do continuous compressions. Swap roles about every 2 minutes to avoid fatigue, keeping the pause tiny.
  5. Use the AED the moment it arrives: power on, pads on bare, dry chest, follow prompts, “Stand clear!” for analysis/shock, then resume compressions immediately.

These elements (depth 5–6 cm, 100–120/min, 30:2, firm surface, fast AED use, minimal interruptions) reflect current UK/EU/AHA guidance.

“Do / Don’t” — the branching choices you’ll practice

First 30 seconds

  • DO: Make area safe (stop tugs/lifts), put phone on speaker, assign roles: Leader/Compressor, AED operator, Airway/Breather, Safety lookout/Timekeeper.
  • DON’T: Delay compressions while searching for a pulse if you’re not trained to do so; don’t spend >10 sec deciding if they’re breathing normally.

Compressions & breaths

  • DO: Aim for 5–6 cm at 100–120/min, straight arms, use body weight, count out loud. Swap ~every 2 minutes (or when AED says “resume CPR” after analysis).
  • DON’T: Lean on the chest, compress on a soft surface, hyperventilate, or pause longer than ~5 seconds when swapping.

AED pad placement & shock safety

  • DO: Dry a sweaty/wet chest; shave a small patch if hair prevents pad adhesion. Place pads right upper chest + left side below armpit (or follow pad diagram). Remove medication patches; place pads next to, not over, an implanted device scar. Loudly clear before shock: “Stand clear—no one touching!”
  • DON’T: Use in areas with fuel vapours/flammables; move the casualty or ventilate first. Avoid puddles/wet decks; don’t let pads touch metal jewellery; don’t touch during analysis/shock; don’t use in a moving vehicle.

Maintenance-specific hazards (scenario branches)

  • Aircraft on jacks? DO: keep clear of jacking points; DON’T: climb or kneel where you can fall.
  • Power on? DO: isolate panels/ground power; DON’T: kneel into live bays or across cables.
  • Fluids (fuel/hydraulic/MEK)?
    • DO: move casualty if safe;
    • DON’T: defib amid volatile vapours.

When to stop

  • DO: Continue until: casualty breathes normally, trained responders take over, you’re physically unable, or the scene becomes unsafe.
  • DON’T: Stop just because a shock was delivered—compressions resume immediately.

 How to swap roles cleanly (≤5-second pause)

  • Timekeeper calls “Two minutes—prepare to switch at the next breaths.”
  • Compressor finishes the 30th compression → Breather gives 2 quick breaths → switch during exhalation → new compressor locks hands and announces “ready” → cycle continues.
  • If AED is analysing, pre-position the incoming compressor to start the instant it says “resume CPR.”

The “What Not to Do” pay special attention to

  • Over-breathing (slow, just enough to see chest rise).
  • Fishing for a pulse (wastes time).
  • Long pauses for role swaps, checking pupils, or hunting for pocket masks.
  • Shocking through water/fuel vapour or touching the patient during the shock.
  • Pads over patches/implants or on a soaking wet chest.
  • Compressions too shallow/slow or leaning on the chest.

Team communication (simple script)

  • Closed-loop orders: “Alex, fetch AED.” → “AED coming.”
  • State actions aloud: “Depth five to six, rate 110… switch in 10 seconds.”
  • Clear for shock: “Stand clear—oxygen away—no one touching—shocking now.”
  • After shock: “Resume compressions.” (no delay).

Practice tools for this module

  • Metronome: set 100–120 bpm (start at 110) to groove the rate.
  • Visual compression guide: use a QCPR-style manikin or a marked foam block targeting 5–6 cm depth with full recoil.
    • QCPR = Quality CPR. (A type of training manikin (e.g., Laerdal’s “QCPR”) that gives real-time feedback on your chest compressions—depth, rate, full recoil, and hand position—via lights or an app.
  • Timed rotations: a 2-minute timer to cue role swaps (or 5×30:2 cycles ≈ 2 min).
  • Knowledge checks (examples used in the branching paths):
    • You arrive in a hangar with fuel smell present. AED arrives now. What next?
      • Correct: Move to a safe area / disperse vapours, then power the AED. Don’t shock in flammable atmosphere. avive.life
    • Pads won’t stick to a very hairy chest—what now?
      • Correct: Quick shave patch for adhesion, or press firmly; never delay long.
    • You see gasping (agonal) breaths—what now?
      • Correct: Treat as not breathing normally; start CPR and call 999/112.

Online learning limits & hands-on validation

  • What online can do well: recognition, sequence memory, safety choices, AED decision points, team roles.
  • What must be hands-on: demonstrating depth (5–6 cm), rate (100–120), full recoil, minimal pauses, correct pad placement, clear-and-shock, safe role swap. Most organisations require a practical skills check (blended learning) and periodic refreshers. Follow your company Medical/First Aid policy and Resuscitation Council UK community training standards.

Quick reference (to memorise)

  • Call → Compress → Defib → Continue.
  • Depth 5–6 cm, rate 100–120/min, 30:2 if trained, minimal pauses.
  • Swap about every 2 minutes; announce, switch fast.
  • AED: pads on, stand clear, follow prompts, resume compressions instantly.
  • Never defib in flammable vapours or with a wet chest.

Note: This guidance aligns with current UK/EU/AHA recommendations; always follow your employer’s emergency plan and local procedures.

Next Steps

Sofema Aviation Services provides the following course available as classroom or webinar – First Aid in the Part-145 Workplace (Base and Line) – 2 Days. Please see the website or email [email protected]

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Part 145, SAS blogs, First Aid, checking for a pulse, Check response & breathing, LOTO, AED operator, Maintenance-specific hazards, Shocking through water/fuel vapour, Practice tools, Online learning limits, hands-on validation, Quick reference