On a crowded commuter train a person seems to become sick and soon falls to the floor and stops moving. People start to scream and yell "call 911" as a couple of good samaritans jump in to action and start CPR.
A transit employee brings an AED (automated external defibrillator) which is placed on the unconscious person when the words "clear, going to shock " is heard in a loud commanding voice. Within minutes emergency services start pouring in to the train station as a once chaotic scene is slowly turned to a well orchestrated, but frantic attempt to save a persons life.
As the Emergency Medical Services, Fire Department and Police Department start to move the patient towards the waiting ambulance you hear "we have a pulse". A transit worker comes to the good Samaritans stating "the person is breathing and has a pulse, you guys did a great job!" as the next train pulls in to the station and commuters continue their day.
This story is based on information I got a couple of weeks after our first Kiwanis CPR training at Midwinter Conference. One of Kiwanians used their new CPR training to help save the life of a stranger. There is no greater way to serve Kiwanis then to help save the life of another person and learning CPR gives us the knowledge and tools to possibly do the same if needed.
We will be offering another CPR class at the District Convention in August as Governor Eric Paul and Governor-Elect Forbes Irvine have both embraced the Kiwanis CPR Initiative.
The class will be on Saturday morning (see convention schedule for details) and is limited to 40 participants and will be by registration only. To register for the class please email CPR Chairman Louis Cazzetta at lcazzetta@verizon.net and you will receive an email confirmation for this class. It is my pleasure and honor to train as many Kiwanians as possible in CPR because there is no doubt that CPR saves lives.
Who knows, maybe we will have another Kiwanian use their newly learned skills to help another person and become a Kiwanis Hero!
Column Posted on Web Site August 2, 2015
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