ARE YOU READY? - YOU SHOULD BE!

ARE YOU READY? - YOU SHOULD BE!

Are you Ready? You Should Be!  You should know how to do CPR and operate an AED( Automated Electrical Defibrillators).  Its not difficult and the knowledge that you might be able to save a life is very satisfying.  The Red Cross in Northern California is offering free CPR training on Saturday, March 12. 

I realized it was time for me to renew my CPR certificate.  Our local school, Alameda Adult Education offers this class yearly. The training is provided by the American Red Cross and the instructor was Joanne Robinson.  The four hour class covered the basics of CPR and AED training using a practice dummy.  

We learned to first evaluate the situation by observing the injured person and the area around that person. Our next step was to determine if the person was unconscious and if so to call 9-1-1 immediately.  Finally, we were able to give care.  Check, Call and Care are the three emergency action steps the Red Cross teaches.

The practice dummy is configured to simulate breathing  - actually the "lungs" move up and down as you breath into the mouth of the dummy which adds to the reality of the class. 

I made a video of the a simulation of the steps involved in CPR and AED.  The video is of two class member who are administering CPA and AED on the practice dummy.  I wasn't able to comment on the steps in the demonstration because the instructor didn't want the disruption.  So I will give a run down of what occurred.  One class member administered CPR while the second class member operated the AED. 

After repeated CPR attempts the "patient" was still not breathing.  The next step was to administer AED. The AED is very simple to operate since there are oral command from the device itself.  You may hear in the background the AED voice telling the class member to stand back while the devise is reading the practice dummy's vital signs and when to administer the "electric shock".   Eventually, the "patient" is resuscitated.  According to the Red Cross "each minute that defibrillation is delayed reduces the change of survival by about 10 percent." 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgZ8X0b9kY8&tracker=False

Its easy to sign up for CPA classes.  Just go to the Red Cross website.  The Red Cross will  even schedule classes at your office at any time you choose.