CPR Saves Lives

We enjoyed this recently posted story about CPR from the American Heart Association and thought you'd like it too....

STORIES FROM THE HEART: Bride provides lifesaving CPR to drowning toddler at wedding reception.

A toddler who’d slipped away from his family was found at the bottom of the deep end of the swimming pool in the backyard where the nuptials were held. Once the toddler was pulled from the pool by a cousin, the groom dialed 9-1-1 and the Bride rushed to where the child had been pulled from the pool and set on the ground and took action.  His face was white, white, white,” Amber said. “People were screaming, ‘He’s dead! He’s dead!’ ”Only three days before, Amber had been retrained in CPR. She works at a cosmetic surgeon’s office in Dallas, and it’s a requirement for her job. “I knew what to do,” she said. “I didn’t have to think about anything, I knew what to do next, no hesitation.” Still in her wedding gown, Amber started CPR. “I probably did maybe just 10 good chest compressions and the water started coming up,” she said. “So I flipped him over really fast and patted him on the back to get the water out.

The first time Amber learned CPR was more than 10 years ago. She was a gymnastics coach at a summer camp, and since she sometimes took the kids swimming, she had to be trained in CPR. She estimates that she’s been certified at least three times since then. This last time – right before the wedding – Amber thought about her 5-year-old son and asked the instructor questions such as, “When do you use two fingers? When do you use one hand or two? What is best when dealing with a child?” She’s always had an interest in medicine and is intrigued by the idea of working in the trauma field. Until then, she knows it’s good to have the training to save a life.“  Especially having a child,” she said. “You never know when you might need it for your child, or someone else’s child or an adult. You just never know.”

The American Heart Association helped pioneer CPR more than 50 years ago, and continues to refine this lifesaving technique. The organization trains over 14.5 million people each year in 60-plus countries. Even without formal training, anyone can be a lifesaver by remembering the steps to “Hands-Only CPR” – call 9-1-1, then push hard and fast in the center of the chest, preferably to the beat of the classic disco song, “Stayin’ Alive” until help arrives.

Schedule a CPR class today at HealthPro  – we can teach you a skill that just may save the life of a loved one. We offer a number of courses - check them out at hpec.org.