The only thing Wrong is to do nothing

At the BGH negotiated a case in which teacher a child is not reanimated. Why hesitate for so many people to help? A conversation with Peter Sefrin of the Red cross.

Interview of Regina Steffens

The Federal court is currently on a tragic case from the year 2013: An 18-Year-old from Wiesbaden collapses in sports class during the warm-up unconscious. The two teachers call the ambulance, to bring the young people in the recovery position and do not feel the pulse, a heart pressure massage. The student suffers severe brain damage due to lack of oxygen. He has sued the state of Hesse due to a lack of First-aid-measures taken by the teacher, among other things, to EUR 500 000 for Pain and suffering, the BGH wants to talk to his judgment in two weeks. The case triggers a spiral of Thought: How long the course is my last First aid? Cardiac massage, how to do this? And what if I hurt the injured even more? Peter Sefrin, the Federal doctor of the German Red cross, explains what matters most in an emergency - and why the Germans have so much fear, to provide First aid.

SZ: Mr. Sefrin, what discourages people to provide First aid?

Peter Sefrin: Almost always it is the fear of doing something wrong. And many people also fear the need for erroneous.

Federal court

a collapse in physical education - a tragic case does not collapse before the Federal court of justice

One of the students, the teachers, resuscitate, but to wait for the ambulance. The young man is now severely disabled - and the Supreme court must assess the fault of the educators.

The idea sounds entitled.

In truth, it is so: When you provide First aid, or tried, only one is insured as well as never. First responders are automatically insured accident.

What can you do wrong?

The only thing Wrong with it, nothing to do. I remember a story in which a man died. It is only a slight car accident, but because he was not properly strapped in, he bounced his head against the windshield and lost consciousness. You would just loosen the belt and his head back over-extension, then he would have survived.

a violation is hard not to see as a layman. Somewhere the Fears and inhibitions to come down here.

people think of when first aid is often of extreme traffic accidents, and resuscitation. The you overwhelmed. In fact, First aid is needed most-at home - in case of bleeding, shortness of breath or loss of consciousness. It is important to know how the stable side position, a pressure bandage and, even if it occurs at home less often, a heart pressure massage run.

In Norway, people have less fear, just before a rescue. 70 percent of first-aiders begin immediately with a revival, in Germany, only 34 per cent.

Yes, we hesitate more and more. This is because the First aid course is in average 13 years. Of course, one is then uncertain and must remember first of all: What do I do now? This important time is lost. Some people are paralyzed in such acute situations, almost like pillars of Salt, and forget the emergency number 112. In Scandinavia, this is completely different. Children can re-animate, because you have to learn it in school.

Peter Sefrin, 77, is the German doctor at the German Red cross. For 55 years, he is only a helper. The Emeritus Professor for anesthesiology recommends that every five, six years, a First-aid course.

(photo: Clemens Bilan/DRK)

Why is this not so?

in Baden-Württemberg, for example, is already relatively far. A teacher can be of aid organizations. The Problem is that it is often staff missing, many EMTs work as volunteers and have to work during the day.

What do you think of a First aid course.

Not so much. We are not aware of the licence: You do the course to get the licence. This increases the Motivation. On the contrary, Will be forced to the First-aid training, the more in a defensive stance.

How do you motivate people?

We try to make training more activities to build the appeal to the people anyway. For example, we offer courses for mothers, where besides the fundamentals will be shown how to rescue children that have something to swallowed. Or courses, which are adapted to sports or professions, such as in the case of forest work. Just there, where it quickly can be dangerous. Forest workers is not a long time ago every. That's true. In Private, it is up to each self, to emergency situations prepare. Companies need to at least operation a-first-aiders schools, so a member of staff, who picks up his First aid knowledge.

Has changed the First aid?

Previously, the courses were two-day, today, on a day nine units à 45 minutes. And, of course, medicine is evolving. A few years ago, you had to memorize the seven steps for the recovery position, today there are five. Therefore, it is worthwhile to make all five, six years of a course.