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A few days ago, a friend of ours celebrated the second year with his brother after saving his life by carrying out CPR. He had a heart attack, collapsed and had no vital signs whilst working in their bar on a beach, but our friend kept him viable until help arrived.
Would you know what to do, or have you carried out CPR?
Wow, what a fantastic story. I have not personally saved a life but have called a few ambulances in my time for people who are been unwell. A few being in my daughter’s pub. My old neighbour called me one night and said her husband had fallen out of bed and could I help unfortunately he had passed away so nothing we could do. I was taught CPR many years ago through work so hopefully if needed it i would be able to help if no one else was around.
eyeballkerry What a shock for your poor neighbour.
At least you've done the most important thing and called for help by ringing for an ambulance and have knowledge of CPR.
Almost all of my residents in my care home had a DNR in place due to severe dementia and usually died in their beds due to natural causes, but we frequently needed to call an ambulance for falls causing broken femurs, head injuries etc.
I actually needed to save a stranger when on a night out. A young lad had fallen backwards onto a cobbled street as we were walking past, he was unconscious and his airway was closed. He immediately began to die as his colour was already changing. We were on our way to a Hen Night which had a Disney theme, and I was dressed as The Queen of Hearts which struck me as funny afterwards.
AlysonC Another amazing story and lucky for him you were there. I can imagine anyone passing by might have found it funny with you being dressed up especially as The Queen of Hearts. It was probably good you were on the way to a hens party and not on the way home. Not sure what happens if you are ‘ giving the kiss of life‘ and you are fully lubricated with alcohol. But everyone should know the basics. It should be taught in schools.
eyeballkerry It would probably not have been a good idea on the way home, I agree. Once I'd handed the guy over to the ambulance crew, I went on my way to meet the others in our party, so I don't know what happened to him.
Nowadays, the recommendation is that unless you are a qualified First Aider, you don't give the rescue breaths if you don't feel able, but to start chest compressions. After all, if someone has otherwise breathed their possible last breath, you've nothing to lose. However, if it's a child that needs resuss, you're encouraged to try and breathe for them regardless of training.
I do wish that First Aid was taught in school.
AlysonC Well done you for helping, it’s a shame you didn’t know the outcome, hopefully it all turned out well. Your work must be very demanding and stressful. You do a wonderful job caring for your residents. I think if someone is trouble and you are the only the person around you would have to try anything even if not fully trained and this is where we come back to training first aid in schools.
Honestly no I wouldn't know what to do I think it's brilliant that people know what to do in these situations I would panic
I’m not sure if she would carry out her claim to commit suicide but it was certainly a cry for help. A colleague rang in sick and as I chatted to her she broke down and eventually told ne her intention. I left and drove to her.
That's an amazing thing to do, save a life. I would like to think if faced with a situation like this that I would be able to act quickly and do my best.
TiaTia I guess that's all you can do, just do your best. It's better than nothing when there's certain death. People worry that you're going to break ribs when doing chest compressions as to do it properly, you have to press deep enough that it's likely, but it's better than a corpse with no broken ribs!
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I saved an elderly women who was having an epileptic fit on the floor in a local park, she was choking on her tongue while people walk by and did nothing
AlysonC I don't view it as saving anyone, just helping them, I'd never walk by anyone who needed help, unlike some people, society is going backwards
martinlufc5637 my epilepsy is really well controlled now, but years ago I was walking home with a friend when I had a fit. She ran across the road to get her dad who was a trained nurse and he tried to force a pencil in my mouth thinking that it would prevent me from biting my tongue. Although this is one of the worst after effects as the bites ulcerate and prevent eating for a week, a pencil could have broken and choked me or caused broken teeth. I guess he meant well but perhaps his training needed updating! Basically, all that needs to be done is ensuring that the head is protected and preferably turned to the side plus lots of reassurance as the person starts to recover as it's a feeling of extreme vulnerability.
I think that people just don't want to get involved nowadays which is really sad.
It's amazing that your friend was able to save his brothers life, even with CPR the chances of survival are pretty low (though much increased if CPR is given over not). I am trained in CPR and do updates each year. Thankfully I have never had to use it but I do think I would be able to since I do remember what I am supposed to do in this sort of situation.
jms19 Yes, sadly they do remain pretty low although now that there's de-fib machines all over the country, the chances have doubled in recent years.
Now that I have retired, I no longer need to update my First Aider at Work certificate, but I used to be amazed at how many changes they adopted over the years. My first book is totally different to my last one. I guess that they found what worked best as the years went by.
AlysonC the de fib machines are amazing in that they are pretty much idiot proof. They are so easy to use and I’m glad to see they are being put in a lot more public spaces.
There has been a lot of changes, I have noticed some since when i first started having to do the training about 10 years ago.
I do regular first aid training so I hope if the situation ever happens I would know what to do. I hope the time never comes when I have to put the training into a real life situation though. A lot of local schools now have a lesson on it as a gentleman does a lot for defibrillators and advocates it as it saved his life several years ago.
Swimmer94 The de-fibs double the chances of survival, so I wonder how many people know where their nearest ones are?
To be honest, in most situations, an ambulance will attend before the public would need to use them, but I agree that they are so important.
It's amazing how with regular training, you just go into auto-pilot mode when faced with an emergency.
AlysonC I am sure there are plenty of people that don't know where they are. I'm lucky that I have one at the end of my road and in my workplace. I would hope they would but sometimes the ambulances can take a long time. Although from training they do say that when you call for an ambulance and you know you're going to need one you should automatically send somebody to get one (that's if others are around).
Not that I can think of.
There's a quote that goes as "You think you're better than everyone else, but there you stand, the good man doing nothing".
Even just asking if some on is okay or if they need help going somewhere can go a long way than stay silent. Some people take time to change in order to help others rather than just themselves, like myself as I wasn't used to.
PhilipMarc Very true. I can remember people who were on my very early first aid course who were really concerned that they would end up in court if they did something that might be considered wrong, especially if they broke ribs whilst carrying out chest compressions which would never happen.
Who knows how many people are actually saved in some way just by a kind word or a smile when they are lost or feel alone.
PhilipMarc , I always stop & ask if the person is ok if I see anyone struggling. Sometimes on my walk home from work I see people who have stopped ,they are usually ok & if they aren't I stay with them .I have been known to carry shopping to their houses for some people .
Here's my mantra..
A little kindness goes a long way & could make someone's day..
Not of a human, no. Have I saved worms, bumble bees, a wasp, beetles etc, when they've fallen into the water troughs, yes. CPR is certainly a great skill to know. I did a course once years ago and I don't remember any of it.
Sherrifffroggy Isn't it great when you see a struggling bee fly off once you've come to its aid? I'm sure that your course would come flooding back to you in a urgent situation.
AlysonC I've thought about looking up CPR again to watch a youtube video, but I never remember. I really do enjoy helping a bee out, hand feeding it sugar and water on a spoon and seeing its energy come back and watching it fly off. Bees are such lovely creatures and we really do need them. Make me happy to know I've saved several.
Thats a beautiful story. I learned CPR at girl guides long time ago. I think we should have first aid training at work as I work with adults with learning disabilities. Unfortunately we get a stupid video to teach us things and thats it
Imnotcheap it is a great story and I can't imagine a world without either of these two men. The guy who saved the life is a kind and clever business man, and his brother is one of the funniest guys we've ever met.
I also had to do first aid for work but it was a 3 day course with a 2 day refresher. If you missed the three year date, you had to do the 3 days all over again to remain qualified. I guess that even a short video gives you a basic understanding in an emergency.
AlysonC no the video was useless more about giving medication we not qualified to give. Then multiple choice questions.
My partner & his brother got an award for bravery when they rescued a neighbour across the road who had come in drunk from the pub & left the gas on...
Years later another brother had rescued an alcoholic lady who had set her flat alight across the road from him, he also got a bravery award...
janphoenix51 Wow! What brave men!
I guess that this goes to show how much more vulnerable people are when they have a few drinks on board. It's a good thing that your partner and his brother were nearby as not everyone would step up.
AlysonC, brothers,my partner & his big brother Sam rescued the first guy, both got an award & years later their brother Steve rescued the alcoholic lady & recieved one...
Another brother ,Jim intervened in a fight on a bus in Sheffield too..My partner's got six brothers & five sisters ranging from him at 65 to his older sister at 83,all very much alive & kicking...
AlysonC ,yes one big proud Irish family, my partner 's sister Lucy & husband John used to run The Adelphi pub near Preston University in 97 when I first met them ,other 3 sisters live in Northern Ireland, 1 sister in Sheffield, 1 brother in Northern Ireland, 2 brothers in Barnsley &
4 brothers including my partner in Sheffield !
Their parents moved to Sheffield from Northern Ireland when my partner was 6 & as adults half moved home to Northern Ireland taking their Sheffield born families with them...
janphoenix51 My sister in law is Irish but from Southern Ireland. How strange that so many returned to Ireland as adults. Only one of my sister in law's siblings went back there, another moved to Canada, but her parents and other siblings stayed in England.
No but my step mum saved my dad's life. I did tell him there were easier ways to not go on holiday then having a heart attack
Jerseydrew Aw, it's lovely that your mum saved your dad.
Yes, he could have just said no to the holiday 
I’ve had training at work but never needed to use it. It’s useful to know what to do just in case, as you never know when you need to use it. Have seen the Heimlich manoeuvre being used a few times & that’s important to know
hspexy I've needed to use the Heimlich at work when a lady choked on her food and the back slaps didn't work. It's quite common for people with dementia to begin to choke on their food but the back slaps usually were enough.
When my daughter was crawling, she managed to find a coin at my mums house, put it in her mouth and then roll over to her back so it slipped down her throat. It flew out with a tip over and a few slaps on her back thank goodness.
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