How much longer?

Irecently presented at the College of Paramedic Conference hosted in University of Western England in December 2011. I was approached afterwards by a couple of students from another UK academic institution who explained that they had not been taught the (CABCDE) Structured Approach method of patient assessment (Halliwell et al, 2011). The students themselves seemed very able and willing to understand and embrace the simple concept that unless haemorrhage is controlled there is no point in securing Airway or Breathing. This concept is not new, being proposed by Hodgetts et al in 2006, and adapted in my own Trust in 2007.

In addition, the students seemed willing to accept the concept of using the same CABCDE algorithm for all cardiac arrests, since there is little point doing chest compression if the blood continues to pour onto the foor. I was impressed with their openness and honesty, but as an educator I was left wondering...is this not a significant failing of their education? I believe the answer is absolutely.