New Things Save Lives

New thing for October? Check. Today I completed phase one of my CPR and First Aid class at the university. Not only do I earn one big credit for this class, but assuming I pass both phases (two three hour classes), I get Red Cross certification and two nifty cards for my wallet to prove it. I have to say that I really enjoyed the class. I'm a much better student at age 52 than I was when I was really taking college classes. I smiled, I nodded, I participated actively, I made major eye contact, and I asked lots of good questions. I give myself an A for the day.

In fact, I earned a big, fat 100% on my end-of-class exam. We spent the day practicing CPR chest compressions and ventilation skills on freaky half mannikins. We also practiced using the automated external defibrillator (AED). I didn't lose a single plastic patient all day, so I think I'm good to go. After CPR training on both the adult and the teeny baby mannikins, we learned how to do the Heimlich Maneuver on adults, children, and babies. As a bit of added excitement, the instructor informed us we could use the technique on ourselves. Yippee.

The class was co-taught by one nice professor and one stern one. Okay, maybe not totally stern. She was just the kind of professor who does not want to be asked questions that suggest that the multiple choice answers on the Red Cross exam are a wee bit ambiguous. We teamed up to take the exam, and my adorable nursing student partner and I had trouble with one answer. All afternoon, we'd been taught that when administering CPR, alone or with a partner, you alternate between compressions and ventilation. You do not administer them simultaneously. One question had a list of possible answers that all seemed wrong. The closest one to right said that when you team up to do CPR, on person does compressions while the other does ventilation. That pesky word "while" troubled me, and after I pointed it out to my almost-nurse partner, it bugged her, too. It sounded suspiciously like it was saying your performed these things simultaneously. We chose it as our answer, and we were right, but I couldn't keep my problem with the wording to myself. Stern professor said (with a major tone), "the answer is perfectly clear. There is nothing wrong with the wording.". Nice professor said, "she's an English professor, she might have a point.". Of course she quickly followed it up with this : "Sue, is it possible you're over thinking this?". Ah, how quickly people get to know me! Alas, when I was awarded my perfect 100%, I didn't much care about that pesky word, "while."

So, my new thing this month was really pretty cool. I don't know that I'll have the presence of mind to do things exactly right in the event of an emergency, but I know I'll try. I was required to take the class in order to lead my 2012 study abroad trip. If any potential 2012 students are reading this, I beg of you: keep your airways clear and your hearts healthy. I don't much want to put this new thing into practice.

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