Imagine Uncle Joe suddenly collapses at a gathering of family members. As panic begins to set in, you remember your bcls course from last summer. You take action, feeling as if you are a superhero wearing jeans and a shirt. It’s called Basic Cardiac Life Support.
BCLS can be used by anyone. The key is to be able to respond quickly if someone’s heart suddenly decides to break. Imagine you are the lifeguard for the party of your life.
Recognize cardiac arrest. The first thing to do is recognize cardiac arrest. It’s important to act quickly. Imagine that you are defusing an explosive time bomb.
Call 911 right now. Now is not the time for “waiting and seeing”. The sooner emergency services can arrive, the more effective they will be.
CPR, or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is next. Push fast and hard on their chest–about 100 to 120 compressions every minute. If you’re humming “Stayin’ Alive,” by the Bee Gees you’re on the right rhythm.
Do not worry if there is no formal training. CPR performed incorrectly can increase the chance of survival by up to three times compared to doing absolutely nothing. Don’t give up until help arrives, or until there is an AED available.
Speaking of AEDs, these little gadgets are lifesavers–literally! The AEDs are so easy to use that even your tech challenged Aunt Betty can do it. You simply turn it off, listen to voice instructions, and then let it do the magic.
Let’s look backwards for a moment. How can you go from zero up to hero status? Today, it’s easier to order pizza online than take a BCLS. Many community centers and workplaces regularly offer BCLS courses.
During training, you can practice chest compresses on dummies. They won’t tell you if you screw up. It’s a great confidence boost! You’ll learn rescue breathing because sometimes pushing alone isn’t sufficient. It’s important to breathe in life.
You might find this intimidating or worry that you won’t remember what to do when the going gets tough (pun intended). After you have practiced enough, your muscle memory kicks into high gear faster than you would expect.
Remember Sally the accounting student? She saved a neighbor’s son who choked after eating a grape in the summer of last year thanks to BCLS she learned during a workshop at work! They are real heroes that we see every day.
BCLS courses also cover how to deal with choking emergencies. These skills are equally useful whether you dine out or have dinner at your home, especially if you have toddlers.
Why wait then? Sign up now for BCLS training in your area. You’ll never know who might need you tomorrow.
The fact that you have the ability to handle any situation is a great feeling.
If you learn Basic Cardiac life support today and not tomorrow, you’re not only preparing yourself for the future but could save another’s as well!