ask: Do you know CPR? Have you ever had to actually use CPR?
I just read a survivor's story on the American Heart Association (AHA) site, where a woman said that a stranger saved her life with his performing CPR on her until the EMT came (and they had to use the AED, automated external defibrillator, twice, for her heart to start beating).
I noticed the AHA has now simplified the CPR instructions to two steps:
1. Call 911
2. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest
I took a CPR course many years ago, and am not sure if I would know what to do in a true emergency?! I remember checking for a pulse (which, is actually tricky to do!), check for signs of breathing, open airway by tilting head (are you stil supposed to do this? What about if person may have a neck injury from the fall?).
Have you ever had to perform CPR on a loved one or on a stranger? Did you know what to do? Have you taken a CPR course...would you know what to do today if you needed to perform CPR? How often should you re-take the course, or is there a way to practice and keep up these skills?
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Like you I took CPR training many years ago but I don't know if I could respond correctly in a true emergency. I've never had to perform CPR on anyone.
If you feel you need a refresher course, you may want to check our health events section. I was able to pull up several classes in my region ...
http://events.empowher.com/main.do
Just search CPR and enter your zip code.
July 10, 2008 - 2:42pmThis Comment
I don't know CPR at all. If I had to administer it in a crisis, I'd have to copy what I've seen on TV - not the best idea!
I might just look into this and take a course, it's probably something everyone should know. And I think it should routinely be taught in school, just like math or English.
July 12, 2008 - 7:17amyes. i took a course in high school and two weeks afterwards pulled my friends sister out of the pool in full blown cardiac arrest. i worked on her for about 10mins before paramedics came who then worked on her for about 20 before she came back. they lost her a few more times on the way to hosp but she turned out okay :)
February 7, 2011 - 1:56pm