CPR

We had a nurse give a CPR course after church yesterday. Since most of us are old, we thought it would be prudent to bone up on the life saving technique. It had been about 25 years since I took that course, and of course they have made some changes. If you don't know the new routine, it is 2 breaths, 30 compressions , done 5 times in 2 minutes..so you can see you need to get busy. It is to the beat of "Stayin' Alive". I am sorry I never learned that song. Anyway it is fast. Now there is the added protection of AED machines (I think that is what they are called..the portable defibs) and they are truly remarkable machines. They analyze and won't let you shock unless the information it processes determines it is a shockable situation. It tells you everything three times, so you don't get it wrong. I really need to find out the proper name for them since you are supposed to yell for one when you are sending someone to call 911.
The main thing I learned new is this. It is vital to strip the patient of clothing on the chest. However, whenever, wherever, whoever. You can't use the defib if you don't, but your hands will slip on clothes and you can't find the right point of contact.
Truly, many lives are saved because someone is available that knows the drill. Just hope I am not the only one around if you go down! It takes a lot of strength, but I suppose God provides that in times of emergency.
The machines cost around $1500, but every church and public building should have one. We are working on a way to get the stewardship committee to pony up the funds for us. If not, we will find another way. How sad to think one of us could be saved if it were available.
Now, go learn or take a refresher course. A couple of hours well spent.