Do yourself a favor and LEARN CPR

[Kevster]

You never know when something you think you'll never need suddenly becomes the most important thing in the world...

I was in a supermarket parking lot (Ralph's) in El Segundo and noticed that about 40 feet away someone had just fallen to the ground next to their car. I thought that was little odd and then I noticed that they weren't getting up. I immediately stopped in my tracks and looked around to see if anyone else was around that saw it too. Nope, no luck. I had to run over and roll the guy over. He was already unconcious and he had a bottle of pills in his hand(I found out later it was nitroglycerin). I then kind of subconciously fell into my training and checked for a pulse (nope) and breathing (very shallow) and immediately started CPR. Someone saw me and apparently thought I was robbing him and got the market security guard. I yelled at the guard to call 911 while I was pumping the guys' chest. I stopped and checked for a pulse (no luck yet) but he was still breathing shallow. After I finished my second set of 15 I got a pulse! I had this big sense of relief and I just sat there feeling the guy's pulse and checking his beathing. The guard comes running out saying they're on their way and do I need any help. I let him know what's going on and about 2 minutes later the paramedics show up (they're right down the street). He still had a pulse when I handed him off to the paramedics and told them everything that happened. The guy started to come around when they took him off into an ambulance and that was it. I had to give a cop my business card in case they needed any information from me for their report but it was cool when the cop thanked me and told me I did a great job.

I didn't like how I started shaking a little bit after the realization hit me of what I had just done, but I guess that's the breaks. The other thing I didn't like was how a bunch of people just started standing around watching what was happening.

I've been thinking about the event over and over in my head tonight and the only thing I can say is this:

LEARN CPR

I've had to use it twice now and believe me - you never know when you're going to need it.

[Speedfreak]

Wow! That is excellent, man. It is good to have people like you in this world. Learn something and actually use it.

That is something I definately need to do, learn CPR. How did you go about doing that? In school?


HAve you been in contact with the guy or was it just recently?




Again, good job. :)

[coleslaw]

I've heard that you actually have to be certified in CPR to legally be able to perform it. If something goes wrong and you are not certified, you could be sued, right? :confused:

[Kevster]

Originally posted by Speedfreak
Wow! That is excellent, man. It is good to have people like you in this world. Learn something and actually use it.

That is something I definately need to do, learn CPR. How did you go about doing that? In school?

HAve you been in contact with the guy or was it just recently?


It happened about 7 hours ago (around 7pm PST on 2/12). I learned CPR around 12 years ago because I had to be certified to be a volunteer firefighter where I grew up. Firefighters (at least in my county) were required to get the American Heart Association certification instead of the American Red Cross certification. I dont exactly know why because I didnt notice anything catastrophically different between the two classes (I have taken several refresher courses to keep my certification up). You can call the Red Cross or the American Heart Association and they can tell you when their next class is coming up. They usually have several a month.

As for the guy I helped, he was older (early 60's I think), reasonably well dressed, etc.. but I don't think it's likely I'll hear from him. I might hear back from the cop who got my business card. But in all likelyhood, nope.

I felt I had to write it down while it was still fresh in my mind. I've been going over it in my head all evening - hopefully I can get some sleep.

[Apex]

Originally posted by coleslaw
I've heard that you actually have to be certified in CPR to legally be able to perform it. If something goes wrong and you are not certified, you could be sued, right? :confused:

You could be sued anyway, especially if you crack a rib (happens pretty often, according to my teacher). I got certified, but it was awhile ago. Back when I got my cert, it was also illegal to stop once you've started, except in the case when you're physically unable to continue (exhaustion).

That's awesome what you did, Kevster.

[Kevster]

Originally posted by Apex


You could be sued anyway, especially if you crack a rib (happens pretty often, according to my teacher). I got certified, but it was awhile ago. Back when I got my cert, it was also illegal to stop once you've started, except in the case when you're physically unable to continue (exhaustion).


What they have always told me was that the good samaritan law would apply. Having the certification will definitely protect you and not having it leaves you open but it's very unlikely someone would actually sue you for correctly applying CPR. It's even more unlikely to try and get a jury to believe someone suing the person who gave them CPR (a lawyer in one of my classes said that). You are right, however about stopping CPR - if it's to the point of exhaustion that's usually when you're yelling for someone to relieve you (hopefully).

This was just one of those cases where for once I was at the right place at the right time.

[ironchef]

:thumbup:

Bully for you, Kev! :cheers:


My mom was a nurse and had the same thing happen to her while she was innocently walking in a grocery store parking lot. She was able to help the guy too. Must be a great feeling.

[topane]

Originally posted by coleslaw
I've heard that you actually have to be certified in CPR to legally be able to perform it. If something goes wrong and you are not certified, you could be sued, right? :confused: Probably, since you can be sued for just about anything. If a person having a heart attack sues someone who saved his life, they should induce another heart attack.

[oblongmelon]

This is a great thread! CPR is a critical procedure that EVERYONE should be trained in-I believe in promoting CPR training in the schools as early as grade 6 in the health classes...Unfortunately, the state doesnt agree with me. If they can teach kids that Aids causes death, then they should also teach what saves lives. Bravo Kevster, Your my hero!

[Jeffbx]

Way to go, Kevster!

It's always nice to hear the good things that happen!


:cheers:

[Kim]

Yeah Kevster! You are AWESOME! My dad was saved by someone who knew the heimlich (sp?) maneuver. Thanks for the reminder, I'm going to start researching a first aid class this afternoon.

[southernbelle]

Way to go, Kev!!!!

Because of you, hopefully he is doing OK, and somewhere some family is so grateful to have more time with him.

You are my hero, too!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

[whitak24]

Kev, that's awesome. sir_froggy should really want to touch you now....not only have you met lots of famous people, but you also saved a life :)
i learned CPR a few years back but haven't been re-certified since. i still remember how to do it, but a refresher with resusi-annie wouldn't be a bad idea.

GAM, i think Kev deserves a custom rank like "Lifesaver" for this very noble achievement.

[styleee]

cool!

i learned cpr like, ahh! 11 years ago! but i've never even come close to having to use it.

[BigJon]

Got|BSA?

I do.

[chrissy]

Great job!

I took the cert class years ago and I'm currently going through the classes to become the co- leader of Audie's GS troop. We have to be certified.

Wow... I just hope I never have to use it. But if I do, I will be glad I will know what to do.

[Pinkgirl36]

That's Awesome. I actaully have 3 months to get certified in it, or I will get fired ( I work at a daycare ). I use to know it like 2 years ago and kinda still do, the thing that is scary is that if something where to happen to one of my kids at my site then I would have to do CPR because the director doesn't know it. :(

[ArkiStan]

OOhhh man...I want to learn.

Good job man. :angel:

[Memo]

Awesome job man. Learn the heimlich too. Last year I was sleeping and my brother came in and woke me up just hitting me and he couldn't breath. He had something lodged in his throat from breakfast. I had to bust out the heimlich and remove it. At first I couldn't, it seemed to be stuck pretty darn well. So I called 911 while still trying to do the procedure and as soon as the operator answered, this huge chunk of who knows what flew across the room. haha, I hung up and 911 called back thinking I was pranking them. I explained and it was all good.

[Grimm]

Learned CPR years and years ago. Never used it.

The laws differ from state to state, county to county. Some places you can only be sued if you are not certified, some places only if you are. If you are not certified and do nothing is the only way to be sure you can not be sued. If you give CPR and you crack a rib (sometimes it happens even if you do everything right) expect to lose a lot of money. How do you prove that the guy needed CPR before you started?
What about risk of disease? Who knows what that stranger has? People who keel over are not in the best of health!

Kevster, you did a very brave and selfless thing. You saved a man's life. But at great risk to your wellbeing.

If you learn CPR, carry a cpr mask in your car and/or backpack. Unless it is a close personal friend, don't even consider breating for someone without a mask. Know the laws in your area. If you can be sued after being cretified, but not before, don't get certified. Go ahead and learn it, but don't open yourself up to legal action.

[welfareloser]

Originally posted by UT Memo
Awesome job man. Learn the heimlich too. Last year I was sleeping and my brother came in and woke me up just hitting me and he couldn't breath. He had something lodged in his throat from breakfast. I had to bust out the heimlich and remove it. At first I couldn't, it seemed to be stuck pretty darn well. So I called 911 while still trying to do the procedure and as soon as the operator answered, this huge chunk of who knows what flew across the room. haha, I hung up and 911 called back thinking I was pranking them. I explained and it was all good.

heimlich maneuver VERY important for any roommate of a kid under 4. i've had to do it at least 3 or four times over the last year and a half.

[DoPeY5007]

I had to be certified @ Boy Scout Camp...


great thing to know!!!...

[Ladogaboy]

Originally posted by Grimm
The laws differ from state to state, county to county. Some places you can only be sued if you are not certified, some places only if you are. If you are not certified and do nothing is the only way to be sure you can not be sued. If you give CPR and you crack a rib (sometimes it happens even if you do everything right) expect to lose a lot of money. How do you prove that the guy needed CPR before you started?
What about risk of disease? Who knows what that stranger has? People who keel over are not in the best of health!


My instructor did say something about getting sued after performing CPR. The thing is, he said something along the lines, "As long as you are currently certified, you are protected under Red Cross." I don't know what that means, exactly, but it sounds cool. The other thing is, according to him, if CPR is administered correctly, it will result in cracked/broken ribs atleast half the time. :shrug:

[Kevster]

Originally posted by Grimm
Learned CPR years and years ago. Never used it.

The laws differ from state to state, county to county. Some places you can only be sued if you are not certified, some places only if you are. If you are not certified and do nothing is the only way to be sure you can not be sued. If you give CPR and you crack a rib (sometimes it happens even if you do everything right) expect to lose a lot of money. How do you prove that the guy needed CPR before you started?
What about risk of disease? Who knows what that stranger has? People who keel over are not in the best of health!

Kevster, you did a very brave and selfless thing. You saved a man's life. But at great risk to your wellbeing.

If you learn CPR, carry a cpr mask in your car and/or backpack. Unless it is a close personal friend, don't even consider breating for someone without a mask. Know the laws in your area. If you can be sued after being cretified, but not before, don't get certified. Go ahead and learn it, but don't open yourself up to legal action.

After reading your post I decided to go to the American Heart Association CPR website for my own peace of mind:

American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care (http://www.cpr-ecc.org)

According to their training documents regarding the administration of CPR, "There has been no known precedent where a bystander acting in good faith has been successfully sued for performing CPR".

Additionally, "the Good Samaritan Act says grants limited liability immunity to providers acting in ‘good faith’ where there is:

No compensation for services
No Duty to Act
No gross negligence"

Also from another training document:

"Cardiac arrest victims are essentially already
dead. They lose consciousness, have no pulse
and stop breathing in a matter of only a few
moments. Most often the heart’s rhythmic
contractions become ineffective, chaotic
spasms so the heart can’t pump blood to the
brain and the rest of the body. The only thing
that can change this condition is CPR and
defibrillation. Using CPR or an AED can only
help, not harm."

I didn't have to provide rescue breathing to the guy I helped because he was still breathing (shallow) and unconscious when I checked his pulse (I remember checking his wrist and neck before I started). I also always check for the Xyphoid Process - that little bone that descends from the sternum - I remember that if you press on that instead of the sternum you could damage the liver.

So I think I'm pretty well covered on this. If anything really happens and I get sued, there are several lawyers in my family that would very likely help me out.

Like I said earlier, I was just at the right place at the right time. Now if I could just win the Lotto tonight....

[aglio412]

good job kev...i learned cpr in health class in jr. high, but i really don't recall my training. i think it may be time to mosey on down to the red cross building and get certified.

[Ladogaboy]

Thanks for the link, Kevster. I was pretty sure that there was a reason one couldn't get sued for administering CPR, but I forgot the reason.

Of course, the negligence part is the reason I gave my CPR classmates a funny look when they through their Red Cross manuals away after class. I've checked back atleast half a dozen times to confirm that I still remember the different procedures.

[eSDee]

Congrats Kevster for thinking on your feet. It is irritating that most people just watch stuff happen and don't take action. Your actions were heroic.

I am not certified in CPR, but I got certified as a "Combat life saver" in the Army where one of the things we learned was CPR. I haven't had any chance to use any of it, but I'm still waiting for the day when I get the chance to treat a "sucking chest wound". ;)

[ChrisMG187]

As a lifeguard, I am required to be certified once per year. I'm coming up on the one year mark now, so I gotta get certified again before applying.