Save A Life: Learn Hands-Only CPR
The Red Cross offered a free mini-course today to teach people hands-only CPR. Gabrielle Giffords Honorary Save-A-Life Saturday (today) honors Rep. Giffords and the many bystanders who saved lives during the Tucson shooting tragedy.
Here are some key points that we took away after attending the class:
About every five years, American Red Cross updates their training, and this is that year. One of the new additions is the hands-only CPR instruction, which is basically the lowest form of CPR that someone can do to help someone in need. In order of importance, the following are the levels of CPR help that exist:
- Call 911, But Do Nothing < Worse Case
- Hands-Only CPR Person On Site
- Fully Trained CPR Person On Site
- First Aid Trained Person On Site
- EMT On Site
- Paramedic / Ambulance On Site < Best Case
For the full description of how to perform hands-only CPR, please see the Red Cross video below.
Things to Note: Just because you see someone who is passed out, that does not mean you should start performing CPR. The heart may be beating just fine, maybe they just passed out from low blood sugar. If the person’s heart is not beating, then it’s time to take action. Taking the full CPR training class will enable you to know how to check to see if the person needs CPR or not. Common problems when performing hands-only CPR include bent elbows and raising your hands above the chest too high and pounding down instead of steady thrusts on the sternum.
One of the rumors we’ve heard in the past is that if a certified CPR trained person ignores someone in need, they can be in legal trouble. That rumor was put to rest after we inquired about it… We were told that, at least in Missouri, there are no laws on the books that require a trained CPR individual to offer assistance, except maybe nurses or doctors. You may be able to save a life, but on the other hand, if you do it wrong, you could cost someone their life.
One other thing to keep is mind is the issue of ‘abandonment’. Abandonment simply means, if you start helping someone, then stop and leave without just reason (dangerous conditions, fatigue, etc), you can be legally charged in court. The idea behind it is that while you started to help, several other trained people could have passed by because they saw you helping already, and you leaving would essentially be costing that person their life because you interfered with others helping out. << Our basic understanding; it might be a ‘little’ off.
A special thank you to Perry Elkins (American Red Cross Disaster Public Affairs Volunteer) and Greg (trainer), along with the whole Greater Ozarks Chapter of the American Red Cross.
If you have any more information about CPR or first aid that you’d like to share, please write us a comment below. The sharing of this life-saving information is an important part of preparing others!
