UNS — Student Community Service Program (KKN) Team from the Faculty of Medical Science (FK) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta held socialization on handling asphyxiation during the vaccination process in FK UNS. Asphyxiation is a subjective experience of discomfort in breathing due to the lack of oxygen supply to the lungs, which causes rapid, short, and shallow breathing.
Aisyah Dhiya Salma, a member of the D1 and D4 KKN Group, stated that this socialization was held when vaccination participants were going through their KIPI process or waiting to be called into the auditorium. The team used the banner and PowerPoint slides shared through LCD and TV monitors. “The materials contain the definition of asphyxiation, classification, steps to handle it, and the criteria of the emergency condition of asphyxiation,” Aisyah explained in the program held on Wednesday (18/8/2021).
Asphyxiation often occurs in Covid-19 patients. Thus, the community needs to understand the correct method to handle the condition because there are many community members who are panicking or confuses and even consider asphyxiation as a normal occurrence. According to Aisyah, this phenomenon occurs because the community is not well informed on what needs to be done when someone shows the symptoms of Covid-19.
“It is unfortunate if (patients) received late treatment due to the lack of awareness of the community on asphyxiation. Therefore, that encourages us to conduct this socialization,” Aisyah added.
Under the supervision of Yusuf Ari Mashuri, dr., M.Sc., Aisyah stated that this program is an effort to minimize the severity of Covid-19. She also explained that there are three classifications of asphyxiation, light, medium, and severe. Light asphyxiation is marked with oxygen saturation above 95%, difficulty breathing in heavy activities. Medium asphyxiation occurs when oxygen saturation is between 93-95%, marked by rapid, shallow, and short breaths during activities. “Lastly, severe asphyxiation, saturation below 93%. Marked with pale, increased respiratory rate, shortness of breath in an activity, and decreased consciousness,” she explained.
The FK UNS student also shared the steps to take during asphyxiation by first checking consciousness, saturation. “Then perform pursed-lip breathing, sit down or standing bent over, and perform proning position. Then perform diaphragm breathing,” she said. Humas UNS
Reporter: Bayu Aji Prasetya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti