IDAI introduces 4P method for first aid on children

The Indonesian Paediatric Society (IDAI) has introduced the 4P method as a simple guide for the public to provide first aid to children experiencing emergency conditions before receiving medical assistance. Dr. Yogi Prawira, Sp.A., Subsp.ETIA(K), head of IDAI’s Emergency and Paediatric Intensive Therapy Coordination Working Unit, said basic life support skills need to be possessed by the community because the first person at the scene during a child emergency is often not a healthcare worker. “You may often hear news of children drowning, choking, or being electrocuted. When an emergency occurs, those around the child are often not medical personnel, but parents, teachers, or even just passers-by,” Yogi said on the sidelines of IDAI’s 72nd anniversary peak event at Ragunan Zoo, Jakarta, Sunday. According to him, IDAI has developed a method that is easier for the public to understand to help them remember the steps of Basic Life Support when facing an emergency situation. “Because the BHD algorithm is extensive and mostly in English, we at IDAI have compiled a quick and easy-to-respond algorithm. The principle is simple, namely 4P: Periksa, Panggil, Pijat, Pasang,” he said. If the child does not respond, the public can take the second step, Panggil, by immediately contacting emergency services via 112 or 119 and requesting medical assistance. The next step is Pijat, or performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation according to the child’s age. For infants under one year, compressions are performed using two thumbs on the centre of the chest, while for older children one or two hands can be used. The final stage is Pasang, which involves using an Automated External Defibrillator if the device is available at the scene. He noted that AEDs are designed to be used by laypeople as they are equipped with voice prompts that guide the user during the rescue process. He added that the 4P method can be applied to various emergency conditions that cause a child to be unconscious, not breathing, and unresponsive, including drowning, choking, or electric shock. “The principle is that Basic Life Support is performed when a child is unconscious, not breathing, and unresponsive, regardless of the cause,” he said. Basic Life Support education was one of the activities held by IDAI during its 72nd anniversary celebration as an effort to improve the community’s ability to handle emergency situations involving children.