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Message started by photojoe on 11/26/10 at 05:45:54

Title: CPR course
Post by photojoe on 11/26/10 at 05:45:54

Took the health provider CPR and Defibrillator course recently, and got my card. Taking this simple four hour course teaches how to perform CPR on everyone from infants to adults. I'll be taking the first aid course before the year is out as well.

This is really good stuff to know, especially for people living high risk lifestyles like riding motorcycles, shooting guns or simply driving a car (high risk in my area).

I'm preparing to leave the business I'm in now, and will be taking the Basic EMT course, hopefully in January. Don't know what part of the field I'm going to end up in, just learning and getting certs. for as much as I can right now. I want to take the NRA RSO orientation and course also.

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/26/10 at 08:05:17

Photojoe said

I'm preparing to leave the business I'm in now, because print media has lost its readers to the point that news photographers just cant make a living any more.

Well, he Almost said that.

Is that pretty much It Joe?

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by photojoe on 11/26/10 at 08:56:43

5F4046415C5B6A5A6A52404C07350 wrote:

I've been thinking about this move for quite a while. Although I have a full time job with a small news service that is very successful, I'm just not happy anymore. After 16 years in the business, my passion for photography is dead. Hey, these things happen. It's not a bad thing. I've experienced so much cool stuff in the time I've been shooting, but it's over. Time to move on to something else.

Regarding the CPR course, I would suggest any rider considering taking one. We never know when it'll come in handy, either while on the road or at home should someone need it. It's only 4 hours. I'd rather use my minutes performing CPR while waiting for the EMT's to get here, rather than just holding the person's hand telling them it'll be OK.

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/26/10 at 10:17:42

Its NOT sad. If your heart is no longer thrilled to do what you Used to love, then its time to move on. Ive learned things & accomplished thigs I thot Id always love doing,, not so, some stuff I got enough of quickly, some stuff I still dig, To be honest, I thot Id be happy to learn some home electrical work,, well, Im happy enough to save the $$$, but Id rather wash dishes & clean a toilet than wire up 2 wall outlets. I hate it,, I can do it, I just dont dig it at all...

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by odmanout on 11/27/10 at 05:09:09

I took the course several years ago but let it laps. My concern was liability. If you happen on an incident, are qualified, and don't give aid, you can be sued. If you do give aid and make a mistake, you can be sued. If you give aid after being told by the person not to, you can be charged with assault. We were advised of the legal issues during the course. I much prefer (cold hearted as it may be) having the choice of whether or not to give aid.

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by photojoe on 11/27/10 at 07:54:02

6C67676E626D6C7677030 wrote:

The instructors did talk about liability. My feeling, if I ever find myself in a situation where a person needed CPR, I wouldn't worry about a lawsuit.

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by prsavage on 11/27/10 at 12:05:50

If you ever do get the chance to perform CPR on an actual person, you will be surprised by how different it feels than the dolls in the class. You will feel the rib cartilage popping and grinding as it lets go of the bones. There is much more resistance on a big man with a barrell chest too, even more than you would expect. And be prepared to hear his last breath leave his body when you start chest compressions or reposition him to the floor.

I am a first responder with my volunteer fire department. I am batting 1.000 - they have all died. This is due to the fact that we don't get called quick enough. The victim's best chance is if it is a witnessed arrest and the call and CPR are done immediately.

So more people trained is a good thing; we will all have a better chance then.

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by Paladin. on 11/27/10 at 14:22:40

If a person has no pulse and not respiration, *anything* would be better than nothing. Just be sure there is no pulse and not respiration.

Defibrillators are neat toys. I even have one built it!

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by mick on 11/27/10 at 18:37:47

I did the course a few years ago,in the class room the instructor was showing how to do mouth to mouth resperation, after the gal got up off the floor after I had supposidly baught her back to life,and she asked the instructor "If it was right to put your toungue in while doing it" the instructor sent me home sans certificate. he said "Dont ever come back " not very nice was he ?

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by babyhog on 11/28/10 at 06:06:07

Joe, I commend you for planning a career change. At our age, that's no small feat.
My son recently completed college in Paramedic Science. He recently got on part-time with one of our county EMT services. He loves it. I think it takes a special kind of person to do that work, so if you are interested in it, I say go for it!

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by photojoe on 11/28/10 at 06:36:21

3F3C3D303228510 wrote:

Thanks BH. Yes, it's all about volunteering, which is a good way to start. Need the 120 hour course to get Basic EMT certification. Tough for me because one of the course days falls on a work day for me.

I really want to drive the ambulance. You know, with the siren and lights :D Has to be the kid in me ;)

Going to stay with the company I'm with now, but continue forward with hopes of landing in some type of job where I hope I'll be happy. 50 years old and starting anew. I guess I do have one career left in me.

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by Boofer on 11/28/10 at 21:46:50

Joe, Did they teach you the new way to just do compressions and not worry so much about the oxygen level? Tried on my dad May 23, 1988. I heard his ribs pop, but EMT said not to worry. It happens. Didn't work, but I tried.

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by photojoe on 11/29/10 at 04:45:53

At least you were there for your Dad Boofer. During the course, they let us know that we'll hear a bunch of cracking noise when doing compressions.

Yes, they did mention compressions only, especially is a situation where there may be blood on the mouth. Also, now it's 30 compressions not 15. So, 2 breaths first if we're able, check pulse, 30 compressions and repeat.

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by Jerry Eichenberger on 11/29/10 at 06:58:43

As for liability, check with some lawyer in your own state. Many states have Good Samaritan laws that shield first responders of all sorts, from a volunteer to a doctor who happens to be there.

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by EricTheRed on 11/29/10 at 14:20:18

My wife was an EMT. Just be aware that this is a tough job with a high suicide and alcoholism rate, many EMT's burnout after a few years. You will have toddlers, teens, pregnant women and young men literally die in your hands. You will crawl into flipped cars in the rain at 3 a.m. full of teenagers and decide who gets out first and lives and who waits and likely dies, and you won't even know how many are there and all you have is a small flashlight. You will have to ignore the pain of others, if they're screaming they're breathing, move on to the next one, and believe with all your heart and soul you are their best and only hope, if you couldn't save them no one could.

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by odmanout on 11/29/10 at 15:51:08

My father-in-law was a firefighter for most of his working life. He helped set up the local Rescue Unit many years ago. He certified in SCUBA, later becoming the instructor. He quit diving after he found a badly decomposed child's body which came apart when he tried to remove it. He then became a certified electrician and wired up fire trucks and new fire halls.

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by babyhog on 11/29/10 at 16:25:24

7B4C575D7D4B4C4C575B3E0 wrote:

Wow, powerful words Eric. As the mother of an EMT, I thank you.

Title: Re: CPR course
Post by photojoe on 11/30/10 at 06:19:41

Good responses, thanks!

I've seen what 1st responders go through. I've shot enough blood and guts during my 15 years shooting news, and a lot of it wasn't pretty. For the most part I'm able to keep a cool head, remain calm and block out everything, but still, shooting from the sidelines is a lot different than being in the middle of it. Whenever we see the scene of a fatal and the cops may be cracking little jokes, that's gallows humor. It's the way some of them deal with it.

My Dad was a NYC Police Officer and told me a story about the first fatal he'd been called to; a guy either fell or jumped from the roof of a building and landed on one of those big iron picket fence type things. Yeah, nasty stuff.

I found a hospital that offers the 120 hour certification course. Only one day falls on my work day. I'll have to figure some way around it. Taking my NRA RSO courses in January also. Got my pistol safety certification already, but that was an easy one.

Must keep going forward. Being unhappy with my job and not doing anything about it is a waste of time.