I have been working on our companies corporate Health and Safety Program and had been focusing on the section of Emergency Management. In the section for First Aid I was hesitant to write in the part where you do CPR as this is something that seemed to be a bit beyond the ken of the average employee. I had a discussion with our production VP about providing everyone CPR training but we were undecided; what with all the defribuwhatevers, airway breathers, checking for pulse (who’s qualified to do that?) and was it 30 breaths and 10 pumps or 5 breaths and 10 pumps, and where was that point, the sternum (?) and all that stuff that goes with it. We were undecided and went back to our desks to continue hacking away at our particular jobs.
An hour later there is a rumble and commotion from the direction of the boss’s office. I looked down the hall and saw the Beast.
The “Beast” is that particular level of energy that happens to bystanders when someone is down and no one is in charge or knows what to do. My boss saw my head leaning around the corner and jerks his thumb towards the problem and says, “Mike, get in there!”
I knew what he was thinking. “Hey, you’re the safety guy. Do something!!” I was thinking, “ Oh man, I’m the safety guy, I gotta do something. Hope I don’t mess this up!!”
Sure enough, there was one of our associates, slouched in the chair making some serious gurgling sounds. About 6 people were running around his chair dabbing water on his lips, trying to elevate his feet, franticly looking for a way to make this situation stop happening and to get out of having to do something they were not prepared to do…………..
OK,
YOU, call 911.
YOU, make sure she does it.
YOU, run over to the fire house and get help.
NOW!
YOU, go with him.
Let’s get him on the floor
Is he responsive?
No.
Is he breathing?
No.
Do CPR
YOU, count with me.
Just before we started he gave what was clearly that last exhalation of the dying.
He died right in front of us.
Clear the airway
Tilt the head back
Breathe in his mouth
Dabble with his tongue and nose till you actually see the air filling his lungs
Pump 10 times
Breathe in his mouth
Don’t worry about the spit
Pump on his chest
Breathe in his mouth
Pump on his chest
Breathe in his mouth
Pump on his chest
(I really looked like I knew what I was doing because I made it a point to act like I knew what I was doing.)
(I would have paid good money to let someone else do it, but too late now)
Thank God, the firemen and EMT’s that arrived about 10 minutes later and took over. They jump started his heart and hauled him to the hospital.
That was yesterday. This morning he called from the hospital to thank us for saving his life.
I told him that I own him now and commanded him to be happy and love his family and friends for as long as he can.
What I learned from the EMT’s is that even after that dying gasp, his heart went into spasms and so his lungs stopped sucking air in and out.
Normally, a few minutes lack of oxygen confirms the sentence and you are truly dead. CPR is all about keeping oxygen flowing to the brain until help arrives so you become the victims lungs and heart muscle.
In retrospect I did a few things wrong. I didn’t tilt the head back enough, 5 breaths 25 pumps. Etc. It made little difference. We got oxygen in there and because of that this morning he is worried about having left his car parked here overnight.
He was lucky that professional help was only minutes away. But he was also lucky that we were able to buy him those few precious minutes. What I learned is that the real challenge is in facing the “Beast”. The “Beast” not only feeds on fear, panic, and anxiety it is also makes you reluctant to take charge of someone’s well being or perhaps even their life because of the specter of failure.
Now here’s the point.
Confidence kills the Beast.
Fear and anxiety is the Beast and is always present in these situations, but Confidence kills the Beast and acting confident can be just as effective as feeling confident. It’s a little harder on you and perhaps less fun but it allows you to get the job done.
Well me and the production VP are sure about one thing now.
CPR Training is for everyone!
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