CPR Training (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)

911

911

Well-known Member
Location
USA
As a state cop, I was required to learn CPR. Last week, I was going through my wallet, which is like the truck drivers and motorcycle riders use, so it holds a lot. I pulled out my CPR card and saw that the date had been long over expired. I needed to be certified every 2 years. I was already almost 7 years overdue, so I called the Red Cross here in my town and signed up for the next class in December.

I suggest and recommend that we all do it, if we are physically able. I am proud to say that I saved a few lives during my tenure as a cop, but now, I don’t know if I remember everything there is to do during the attempted recovery. If you can do it and you ever have the opportunity to use it and help someone, that person and their family will be grateful. I still get a Christmas card from one of my survivors, which is not necessary, but it’s nice.
 

911. When you recertify you will see that CPR training has changed quite a bit. One major difference is the practice of doing both mouth blows and chest compressions. Now the practice is to only do chest compressions but at an increased rate.

In my personal experience over a ten year period of time with Metro Toronto Ambulance between 1977 and 1987, I did CPR on at least 200 people. How many did I revive ? About 10. Why ? TIME between the person going vital signs absent, and the start of effective CPR measures. Even if we were able to get to the patient in the hoped for seven minute arrival time, the chances were low that the patient was going to be revived.

Today the availability of public cardiac equipment has improved those numbers, but only by a small amount. If the patient is out in the countryside or on a interstate highway when they go VSA, their chances are low for a recovery because of the time required to get to them. Brain death begins to occur at ten minutes of no respirations and no heart beat. Its all down hill from there, in terms of recovery. JimB.
 
Note to self: Need to review my DNR. First task is to find it. Second is to make sure my SO knows not to call 911 until she is sure I'm dead.
 

Thank you for this reminder, @911. It's been about 20 years since DH & I took a CPR class. We watch our toddler grandson 2-3 days a week and some overnights. A baby brother is expected in March. A refresher course is a great idea! Went to their website and learned the Red Cross has numerous ones in our area throughout the month.
 
StarSong said:
Even so, that's impressive. They and their families will always bless you for saving those lives.
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I am more proud of the 9 babies that I delivered in that decade on the streets of Toronto, and the people that I was able to talk down from their ideations about suicide. In my experience, women threaten to kill themselves a lot more than men do. The difference is that men actually go through with it more often. I had a standard offer for people who said " I want to die ". I would offer to kill them myself, using my large folding buck knife, or throw them off the apartment balcony. All of a sudden, they didn't want to die. I had called their bluff. Jimb.
 
jimintoronto said:
911. When you recertify you will see that CPR training has changed quite a bit. One major difference is the practice of doing both mouth blows and chest compressions. Now the practice is to only do chest compressions but at an increased rate.

In my personal experience over a ten year period of time with Metro Toronto Ambulance between 1977 and 1987, I did CPR on at least 200 people. How many did I revive ? About 10. Why ? TIME between the person going vital signs absent, and the start of effective CPR measures. Even if we were able to get to the patient in the hoped for seven minute arrival time, the chances were low that the patient was going to be revived.

Today the availability of public cardiac equipment has improved those numbers, but only by a small amount. If the patient is out in the countryside or on a interstate highway when they go VSA, their chances are low for a recovery because of the time required to get to them. Brain death begins to occur at ten minutes of no respirations and no heart beat. Its all down hill from there, in terms of recovery. JimB.
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I broke down and spent the money on a portable AED. I keep it in my main vehicle, but we switch it with whatever vehicle we are using. I also carry a choke tube. A few summers ago, we were at a friend’s cookout and one of the guest’s children started choking. I tried sticking my fingers down his throat, but I couldn’t get hold of the piece of food blocking the child’s airway. I then used the Heimlich Maneuver, which has to be done carefully and the piece of hot dog came up far enough that I could finally grab enough of it to pull it out.
 
911 said:
I broke down and spent the money on a portable AED. I keep it in my main vehicle, but we switch it with whatever vehicle we are using. I also carry a choke tube. A few summers ago, we were at a friend’s cookout and one of the guest’s children started choking. I tried sticking my fingers down his throat, but I couldn’t get hold of the piece of food blocking the child’s airway. I then used the Heimlich Maneuver, which has to be done carefully and the piece of hot dog came up far enough that I could finally grab enough of it to pull it out.
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Can you tell me more about the choke tube? Is there a brand name.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
A million years ago, and in another life, I was a CPR instructor for the Heart Assn. They've done a lot of research since then. Like jimintoronto says, it's changed a great deal since then. And considering our age group, it wouldn't
hurt to at least understand the basics.
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Many people say " But won't it break their ribs if I do that ? My reply was always........Consider the alternative outcome if you do nothing? In many things in this life, there is a choice to do something, OR do nothing. Don't be the one standing there with your hand over your mouth, frozen in place because you don't know what to do.

At the very least, know HOW to give information to the 911 operator about the situation. 911 needs to know WHAT is going on, WHERE it is happening, to WHOM it is happening, and WHY it is happening.

Typical 911incoming information might go like this..Need EMS at 123 Main street in Youville. Male late 60's not breathing. CPR in progress. We are inside the barber shop. How long did it take to say that ? 15 seconds ? Brief and to the point. JimB.
 
911 said:
I bought mine from LifeVac. They are easy and quick to operate. Put the cup like plastic small bowl over the mouth, attach the vacuum tube, squeeze it and let it go. Whatever is blocking the airway should come out.

Choke Tube.
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@911, once again you have offered advice that's invaluable. As I've mentioned on these threads I watch my toddler grandson 2 days a week. Although I'm extremely cautious about the foods I offer him, choking hazards are never far from my mind. That's true for kids and adults - it happens so fast and so unexpectedly.

I went on that choke tube's website. Official Site of LifeVac | Choking Rescue Device that Saves Lives

Turns out they have a special running right now. 5 home kits for $239.98 (phone orders only), so $48 per kit - normally $69. I bought them for every household in my immediate family. So one for each of our kids' homes, and a set for every car.

So 15 kits, all told, to cover houses and vehicles (including our RV). Yes, $720 plus tax is a fair chunk of change initially, but well worth the peace of mind. Once I learned about this, I'd never forgive myself if I didn't buy them and a member of my family or a guest choked to death. This can even be used on oneself.

This 3 minute video says it all:
 
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When I was in Germany I needed a drivers license. You have to take 7 hours of first aid classes to be granted a license.

I could be wrong about this, but I recall seeing somewhere that generally, in Russia, people will stop at a crash and try to offer help/first aid. Whereas in the US people tend not to because of the fear of lawsuits. Could have that wrong though..........
 
StarSong said:
@911, once again you have offered advice that's invaluable. As I've mentioned on these threads I watch my toddler grandson 2 days a week. Although I'm extremely cautious about the foods I offer him, choking hazards are never far from my mind. That's true for kids and adults - it happens so fast and so unexpectedly.

I went on that choke tube's website. Official Site of LifeVac | Choking Rescue Device that Saves Lives

Turns out they have a special running right now. 5 home kits for $239.98 (phone orders only), so $48 per kit - normally $69. I bought them for every household in my immediate family. So one for each of our kids' homes, and a set for every car.

So 15 kits, all told, to cover houses and vehicles (including our RV). Yes, $720 plus tax is a fair chunk of change initially, but well worth the peace of mind. Once I learned about this, I'd never forgive myself if I didn't buy them and a member of my family or a guest choked to death. This can even be used on oneself.

This 3 minute video says it all:
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The 2 things that kids are most likely to choke on; hot dogs and spaghetti. At least, that’s what I have been told.

I’m glad you took advantage of the offer, but I also hope you never have to use it.
 
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For so long, I've intended to take a CPR course. Never did it though. Going for your recertification....good for you. I've damned near choked on cooked spinach and asparagus. Now I avoid asparagus but still eat chopped spinach.
 
old medic said:
My 1st time certified was 1978, by 88 was an instructor. I'll bet I've trained a thousand people over the years. like Jim I've done it on more folks than I can count. the few successes are nice. Some of the losses still haunt me.
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I have told this story before, but it’s a good one because it has a nice outcome. We were at a baseball game. A local American Legion game, which is played by high school age kids 16-18.

A kid’s grandfather suddenly slumped over and fell out of his seat. An announcement was made for anyone with CPR training to report to “B” section. I ran over and there was a nurse already giving CPR. She tired out and I took over. About 5 minutes or so later the EMT’s showed up. By that time, the older fellow was awake.

A week later, we went to our grandson’s game. There was the older gentleman in the stands. He recognized me and thanked me. I told him it was the nurse that saved him. The sooner CPR can be started, the better chances are of survival. The idea is to keep blood flowing to the brain so that the brain stays alive. No matter what, it was a “W” for life.
 
911 said:
I have told this story before, but it’s a good one because it has a nice outcome. We were at a baseball game. A local American Legion game, which is played by high school age kids 16-18.

A kid’s grandfather suddenly slumped over and fell out of his seat. An announcement was made for anyone with CPR training to report to “B” section. I ran over and there was a nurse already giving CPR. She tired out and I took over. About 5 minutes or so later the EMT’s showed up. By that time, the older fellow was awake.

A week later, we went to our grandson’s game. There was the older gentleman in the stands. He recognized me and thanked me. I told him it was the nurse that saved him. The sooner CPR can be started, the better chances are of survival. The idea is to keep blood flowing to the brain so that the brain stays alive. No matter what, it was a “W” for life.
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You have underlined the MOST important factor in CPR. The time period until effective chest compressions are begun. The delay factor has a huge impact on what the outcome will be. When I was with Metro Toronto Ambulance in the 70's and 80's, our target response time was seven minutes, AFTER the 911 center received the call. As you can imagine a wide range of things ( that we had no control over ) sometimes got in the way. Traffic, road and weather conditions, and quit often incorrect location information. Just one example of "wrong information " would be this...Toronto has FIVE John Streets, and Queen street is about 10 miles long. Confusion sometimes reigned. Jimb.
 
jimintoronto said:
You have underlined the MOST important factor in CPR. The time period until effective chest compressions are begun. The delay factor has a huge impact on what the outcome will be. When I was with Metro Toronto Ambulance in the 70's and 80's, our target response time was seven minutes, AFTER the 911 center received the call. As you can imagine a wide range of things ( that we had no control over ) sometimes got in the way. Traffic, road and weather conditions, and quit often incorrect location information. Just one example of "wrong information " would be this...Toronto has FIVE John Streets, and Queen street is about 10 miles long. Confusion sometimes reigned. Jimb.
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I stopped in at the Red Cross just yesterday to register for the CPR classes coming up so I can get re-certified. There was a chart on the wall that showed what a chest compression does. When you compress the chest, you are pushing blood throughout the arterial system, especially to the brain. There was a note that stated, “The brain can begin to die in 3 minutes without a blood supply.” The brain is what’s important to keep working. The brain gets its oxygen from the blood.

I know I was preaching to the choir, but everyone of us should learn about these things. We all have a chance to save a life.
 
911 said:
The 2 things that kids are most likely to choke on; hot dogs and spaghetti. At least, that’s what I have been told.

I’m glad you took advantage of the offer, but I also hope you never have to use it.
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Same here. When my daughter was a toddler she choked on a green bean she snagged from my plate. I slapped her on the back, but she still wasn't breathing. Fortunately, the Lamaze class I'd taken a couple of years included a night of hands-on infant and child CPR. As I'd been taught, I held her upside down by her ankles, and a few hard whacks between the shoulder blades did the trick. Very, very scary moment.

That's probably why I jumped on this offer. I know how quickly a meal can move from calm to terrifying.
 
StarSong said:
Same here. When my daughter was a toddler she choked on a green bean she snagged from my plate. I slapped her on the back, but she still wasn't breathing. Fortunately, the Lamaze class I'd taken a couple of years included a night of hands-on infant and child CPR. As I'd been taught, I held her upside down by her ankles, and a few hard whacks between the shoulder blades did the trick. Very, very scary moment.

That's probably why I jumped on this offer. I know how quickly a meal can move from calm to terrifying.
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When I was a 2 year old in 1948, I swallowed a large overcoat button that I took off my Mum's sewing table. Dad happened to be home that day along with my Mum. We were living on the second floor of a house here in Toronto. Dad threw me over his shoulder and ran down the stairs, towards the street. The button had 4 large holes in it where you would put the threads to attach it to a men's winter coat. By running down the stairs quickly, with me on his shoulder, Dad managed to pop out the button that was lodged in my throat. I spit out the button on the front porch of the house. I almost died that day.

Later at about age 4 I tried to ride my tricycle down the stairs going into the basement. I still have a small scar on my right eyebrow from that experience. Jimb.
 
VaughanJB said:
When I was in Germany I needed a drivers license. You have to take 7 hours of first aid classes to be granted a license.

I could be wrong about this, but I recall seeing somewhere that generally, in Russia, people will stop at a crash and try to offer help/first aid. Whereas in the US people tend not to because of the fear of lawsuits. Could have that wrong though..........
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why Russia, why not the UK...? ( altho' nowadays most people are likely to spend more time filming it on their phones to upload to Social Meedja...I have heard or read the same about the USA.. but as a litigation society, I'm not surprised people are wary ... what a shame. I have a feeling similar will happen here soon too..
 

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