Be Prepared and Get CPR/First Aid Certified
By Leanne Shelton
Not long ago, a friend of mine was out to dinner with her family – husband, three daughters, and son. They had been out all day and were very hungry. Her 13-year-old daughter was so hungry, she didn’t even take off her jacket. As soon as her food came out, she quickly took a big bite of her steak. She didn’t chew it completely, and it got lodged in her throat.
My friend happened to glance over at her and could tell something was wrong. It was then that her daughter grabbed her throat to signal that she was choking – can’t breathe, can’t swallow, sheer panic in her eyes – choking. Of course my friend started panicking. Who wouldn’t, right?
Thankfully her husband is in law enforcement and knew how to perform the heimlich maneuver, which he quickly started. After a few tries he stopped, and she started pounding on the table because the food wasn’t free. My friend ripped off her daughter’s jacket and after a few more tries, the piece of food came flying out of her mouth.
What a terrifying situation! What if you were in a situation like that? Would you know what to do?
When I was pregnant with my first child (who is now 8), I was so afraid of him choking and not knowing what to do that I signed up and completed
a CPR class. I knew that CPR for infants and children was different than for adults, but I wasn’t exactly sure how or what to do differently. I have to say, after actually taking the class, practicing, and getting certified, I felt much more relaxed about handling a situation should it ever come up. I felt prepared.
If you have never taken a CPR class, I highly recommend that you do. It is so much better to be proactive than reactive! And not just for kids – what if you’re out with your significant other and he/she starts choking? What if you’re by yourself and you choke? Would you know how to save yourself? I could go on and on with situations that you could potentially find yourself in. It is an investment in safety that you will never, ever regret. I promise.
You can register for a CPR/First Aid class with Shoen Safety at this link: https://shoensafety.com/events/list/. If you can’t find a class that fits in your schedule, contact Shoen Safety for more options.
I highly recommend taking the class. You will become certified. You will practice what you learn during the class, which is a lot different than reading a document online about it. You will also be able to ask questions and get them answered. Don’t wait – sign up today!
The American Red Cross has an Adult First Aid/CPR/AED Ready Reference available to download at this link: https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/atg/PDF_s/Health___Safety_Services/Training/Adult_ready_reference.pdf
The American Red Cross also has a Conscious Choking Poster available to download at this link:
https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/atg/PDF_s/ConsciousChokingPoster_EN.pdf
I highly recommend that you download and review these two documents IN ADDITION to getting CPR/First Aid certified.
