CPR anyone...?

Yesterday, my job offered a CPR training course, which I attended. And this year was a little bit different. For starters, there was less to remember (2 breaths and 30 compressions). Simple, as that! I don’t have to worry about anything else, except keep performing the CPR until paramedics arrive!

The class was approximately three hours long. As we watched a video on how to perform CPR and how use an automated external defibrillator or “AED” (a machine that analyzes the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, instructs the person using the AED to deliver an electrical shock to the victim to regulate his heart), we also got to practice what we learned on a dummy.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Make sure the area is clear of any danger (you don’t want to be a victim yourself, i.e. getting hit by a car on the street)

Step 2: If the person looks unconscious, tap the person on the shoulders and try to get a reaction from him/her while asking, “Are you o.k.?” If no response, go to step 3.

Step 3: If you are alone, immediately call 911; get and/or yell for help; if there are people around, have them call 911 (and get the AED if one is available).

Step 4: While victim is lying on the floor, open the airway and check for normal breathing. You do so by tilting the head back, raise the chin up with two fingers. If not breathing, give two breaths (check for chest rising as you do so). Open his shirt to expose his chest. Place the palm of your hand on the chest (between the nipples) and set the other hand over it and begin with compressions. Give cycles of 30 compressions (count out loud so you don’t lose track or skip a beat) and 2 breaths. (Thing to remember…once you begin this process, you must continue to do so until AED or EMS rescuers arrive).

Step 5: Repeat Step 4 until someone brings out the AED, or someone can relieve you (who knows how to perform CPR) and/or when paramedics arrive (leave it to them to handle the rest).

After learning how to give CPR, the instructor showed us how to use the AED machine. It came with a pack that included a mouthpiece (to give CPR so you don’t have to do it directly on the person’s mouth), scissors (to cut out any clothing to expose the chest), an extra battery for the AED (in case batteries are low) and a razor. A razor? Yes, a razor! One is necessary in case the patches won’t stick due to a very hairy chest. So I raised my hand and asked, “Do you have to apply shaving cream or something?” Everyone laughs. The instructor responds, “No. Just shave enough on the chest area where you will be placing the patches until they stick.” Sounds simple enough!

The AED machine had two buttons, the “On” button and the “Shock” button. The only thing you have to remember is to turn it on. Once you do so, the AED uses voice prompts to instruct the rescuer. Easy right?

We again continued to practice what we learned on the dummy. I immediately took the pads out from the AED, and was about to place them on its chest, when I realized I had forgotten to turn on the machine. Oops!

Once it was on, I listened for instructions and tried to follow them. I managed to place the pads (directions shown on pads -- one on the right side of the chest and the other on the left side below the breast) and again waited for further instructions. When the machine finished analyzing the heart, it instructed me to press the button to give the person a shock, (which you're suppose to say “clear” before pressing the shock button so you don’t end up shocking someone who might be touching the victim and, of course, I went straight for the button and forgot to do so). There went my grade!

After performing the “shock”, the machine instructions were to start giving the person compressions (to which I went straight for the dummy’s mouth to perform CPR). The instructor yells out, “Compressions!”. Oops! Sorry! I started doing the compression and the instructor tells me, “Count out loud!” “One, two, three…” After the 30 compressions, I was sweating! That was exhausting! I can’t imagine doing that a few more times. It’s a lot of work!

We went over what we learned a few more times and had a question and answer session. The shaving of the chest was brought up again to which the instructor comments, “And no….you don’t have to oil him up” and one of my co-workers adds, “Yeah, bring out the shaving cream!” Everyone laughs. The instructor also says, “And remember after the AED gives the shock, it instructs you do to what?” “Compressions!” Everyone responds simultaneously as they turn to look at me!

After work I told my hubby of my experience and as I finished relaying my story, he had a smirk on his face and says, "Sounds to me like you wanted to give him a clean shave before you blew...his lungs out!" ; )