I took part one of two of a mandatory First AID/CPR course today. I have to take it so I am able to go back to university and work in a clinical setting (I am a nursing student), and I have to update it every year for this clinical agency.

I do find first aid and CPR really interesting, and I think the skills are very valuable and I'm glad that I have them. (Glad I'm getting a refresher too, because I've forgotten everything).

I've only had to perfrom first aid once, and that was when an elderly gentleman who was walking in front of me collapsed, (from what I presume was heat stroke) and he hit his head of the side walk. So he split his head open and was non-responsive, he was breathing though, so I just steadied his head in the position it fell and applied pressure to the bleeding wound. For my first experience, it was a rush, but I'm appreciative that I was able to practice some first aid (of course to the expense of the gentleman's unfortunate situation), so now I know I can deal with blood and not loose my head or anything.

So, do you have first aid/CPR? Have you ever encountered a situation in which you were faced into using it? When was the last time you were trained? Are you comfortable with practicing first aid/CPR?

Just a wondering...

I'm not trained it in right now, but I would like to be, espeically going into the teaching career.
I know my 4th grade teacher told us that she was certified to do it, and that the year before a student of hers was choking on something she handed out and she had to perform it. I like the reassurance that IF I need to use it at some point, I could.
EDIT: Forgot a question.
I'd be totally comfortable performing it in the right situation. Even if it was someone I didn't like, was disgusting, was awkward, etc, if it's a serious need of CPR or other things, then I can look past that and save the person.

I'm trained in First Aid/CPR. My certification cards I carry in my wallet. It was a course I took just so I didn't have to take a P.E. class at the community college that I went to and I took that class just this past spring semester. That class was a better experience then the two part "class" I had when I was in middle school. But it wasn't for school, we got certified in our Girl Scout troop.

As for using it, I haven't had to use it at all. Not even the first time I was certified.

But if the time came to use it, I don't know. I'm shy by nature and I don't like getting up close and personal with people I don't know. If it was a friend or family member, I wouldn't have a problem. So, I guess, technically, I'm not comfortable with actually performing First Aid/CPR. Although, I'm more comfortable with the first aid on someone over the CPR.

I'm an emergency medical technician (EMT). I had to go through basic life support (BLS) before going into EMT training. So...with my job at a clinic, I'm dealing with first aid and CPR constantly. I've treated a lot of people with pretty ugly gashes, who passed out from the heat, and even experienced possible symptoms of a heart attack. I've had patients who bled so much their blood was shooting out. @[email protected]; I've pulled medical coverage at high school football games to a variety of military training sites.

Anywhere between every two weeks to every month we'll get trained with new skills. I don't think we get enough hands on experience though. *wants to learn more* T_T

To be completely honest, while I'm comfortable with practicing aid to strangers, I really wonder if I would be able to handle something serious if the patient was either a friend or a family member. I hope I would be able to not freak out over someone I care about so I can treat them. @[email protected];;

In my p.e class we were taught it. I know how to do it but I dont have a certificate or anything. Sooo, if someone dropped dead infront of me and no one knew how to do it I would. ;D

My health class in 9th grade had a CPR section that lasted for about a week. At the end, you could take a test and become certified if you wanted to. I got the certification, but it has long since expired.

i dont kno i dont even know what c.r.p is

Originally Posted by lovely aukone

i dont kno i dont even know what c.r.p is

CPR.
A really, really rough summary of it is a procedure you follow if someone is unable to breathe and in cardiac arrest for whatever reason. Again, very basic rough procedure of it is to place your mouth on theirs and breathe, hence why some people wouldn't want to do it.

I have trained in it, taking a small three week course. It was kind of exhausting and weird as an experience, but I took it to pass my CMA course. It was quick and relatively easy to learn since I know I don’t have the greatest attention span in the entire world and I passed pretty well.

In my class, they tested me on partner rounds, switching with another person. One would administer breaths to the victim/mannequin, the other pumping the person’s chest thirty times. After that, we’d switch effortlessly and do the same and repeat three time.

Then I was tested on the Heimlich technique and the CPR of an infant. The infant was the easiest to prefer. The Heimlich also easy and relatively simple. But I think I have to renew it with one year or two so that kind of sucks.

I took a week long course, though high school PE isn't really the beast qualification.
I was told that if I were to ever preform CPR, I'd probably break someones ribs [after doing it on the dummy], which apparently isn't a bad thing according to my Gr.9 Teacher. xD!

If I ever had to preform first aid or CPR, I wouldn't miss a beat. I'm great in high stress and emergency situations. Blood doesn't bother me, and neither does the sight of an open wound. I think if it were a close friend, or family member I might react negatively at first - but I'd still be able to preform...cause well, they wont be dying on my watch! xD!

Yesterday the class finished the CPR course, I passed. Yay :). However on either side of me, both people writing the test failed. Unfortunate, I never seen someone fail a CPR course before.

I cut my hand up really bad by accident, it got stuck in a bun toaster at work. So I had to treat my hand for cuts and burns, so glad I took that course. One lady was like 'put vinegar on it', umm...lady are you crazy?!! I have open cuts on my hand. Wow, some people.