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Choking help

Aug 25
0
Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack

Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack. Not the same.

By | ARE you ready to help?, Blog, Choking help, CPR Party, EasyCPR Adult class at Home | No Comments

Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack.     Not the same.

Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack?   Sometimes the two terms are used as one.   Yes, they can seem the same, but what they are, medically, is quite different.

It is wonderful that more and more people are getting trained how to give care in an emergency situation.    You ARE most likely to give care to someone you love who is choking or unconscious.

Unconsciousness can occur with people suffering a car accident, had a breathing emergency that escalated, had a diabetes incident – or is having a heart attack.    Except, wait…   OR is it a cardiac arrest?

They’re not the same.

A heart attack is a circulation problem.     Blood is not flowing well due to clogging of the arteries.  But the heart can continue to pump, though it’s in trouble.

A cardiac arrest is an electrical problem.   The heart is not pumping correctly.   It stops pumping.    The deadly rhythm is, most often, “fibrillation”.     Thus, what is needed is de-fibrillation – the equipment that delivers a large electrical charge to the heart.

Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack.

Visit this site that explains the difference:

Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack

I have been teaching CPR, First Aid and youth Babysitting CPR for 16 years and am passionate about people getting trained.   Students tell me, year after year, about wonderful incidents where their relative or friend was saved, how they personally assisted someone, the quick help from EMS (Emergency Medical Services /911) and more.

I include full CPR in the Babysitting class I teach to youth, age 11+.     Compressions save lives.   It is a beautiful thing when my young students come to me at the end of class and share, with their luminous smiles, “I feel confident, now” and “thank you SO much for this class”!    It warms my heart and keeps me going.

Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack

Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack. Not the same.

People wonder when to call 911 and I like to think of what a paramedic friend of mine always says, “If in Doubt, Call Them Out“.    Dispatch is RIGHT THERE for you and helps get clarified what is happening and the urgency of your call.    Dispatch rocks.

Dispatchers are typing a constant flow of information to the 911 responders, who are underway in traffic, right away.    Dispatchers help you calm down and proceed with care until EMS arrives.

That “Window of Time” until EMS arrives is where YOUR TRAINING kicks in.

You are most likely to give care to someone you love.    Be ready.   Get trained how to do compressions.  Get trained what to do if someone is choking.

You’ll be glad you did.

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EasyCPR-Denver.com     visit my site for the list of upcoming classes

Connect with me on my Facebook page to keep receiving these tips!

Jean Lesmeister, 16 year Babysitting CPR, Adult CPR & First Aid Instructor

American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI)

Please  SHARE  this information with your network – THANK YOU!

Jul 06
0
Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack

CPR Training improvements quiz. Learn changes at a “CPR Party”.

By | Blog, Choking help, CPR Party, EasyCPR Adult class at Home | No Comments

CPR Training improvements

CPR Training improvements!   The major CPR training agencies convened in 2015 to again adjust CPR protocols with the objective of making learning CPR even easier.   As a Training Center for the American Safety and Health Institute and owner of EasyCPR-Denver, I love that!  The goal is always to save lives and, from those earlier days when training had too many steps, we have evolved to excellent clarity about CPR.   It is easier than ever to understand why we perform CPR, how to perform CPR – all with fewer steps to ascertain whether CPR is/isn’t needed.    We also have Compression-Only CPR!

I have enjoyed teaching for 16 years Babysitting CPR Safety classes for age 11-15 so they can be safe babysitters, understanding diapering, basic first aid, shaken baby syndrome, quality time and, yes, FULL CPR.    However, I find that the same conscientious parents wanting their youth to be trained before babysitting, can somehow believe the need to give care “won’t happen to THEM”.    The 12 year old is trained, now – are her/his parents?   Sadly, often not!   In their household, the 12 year old knows what to do – but nobody else!

CPR Training improvements

CPR Training improvements – learn them!

How long ago did you take CPR?

Perhaps those parents got training once – but that was when the current 12 year old was a newborn, perhaps?    That’s a LONG time ago…   There have been CPR Training improvements!  Things have changed for the better and it’s ever more important to be ready to give care.   We are MOST likely to give care to someone we love.     Can Grandma choke?   Is the three year old choking?   Does the 42 year old aunt need CPR?    Is the 22 year old unconscious and starts to vomit?

 

CPR Training improvements

You feel confident to perform CPR!

Here’s a quiz for you:    (answers below)

  1. Are a heart attack and a cardiac arrest different?
  2. If I can’t wake the person up, but they are breathing, should I give them CPR?
  3. If someone is coughing and coughing to dislodge something in their throat, do I smack their back?
  4. Do more women die of cancer or heart disease?
  5. Is the main symptom for heart trouble, for everyone, chest pain?
  6. If the person in trouble doesn’t want my help and insists that I not call 911 – should I obey?

 

Be ready.   Get trained.    The 2-hour CPR class covers CPR and the choking skills.   I teach “CPR Parties” at your home or business.   I call them “parties” because you can follow the class with a friendly social time, whether at your home with loved ones or at your business with clients.   Call me so I can explain how easy it is – I’m EasyCPR-Denver!

 

Answers:

  1. Yes, a heart attack is a circulation problem (a clog) while a cardiac arrest is an electrical problem, the rhythm is unhealthy
  2. No, you only perform CPR when the person is both unconscious and not breathing
  3. No, doctors have decided this is ineffective; maybe even counterproductive
  4. Heart disease.   1 in 3 women die of heart disease.
  5. No.  Chest pain is a symptom for men but might completely absent in women.   Women have different symptoms.
  6. No.  You must have their permission to touch them.   You do not need their permission to call 911.

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EasyCPR-Denver.com     visit my site for the list of upcoming classes

Connect with me on my Facebook page to keep receiving these tips!

Jean Lesmeister, 15 year Babysitting CPR, Adult CPR & First Aid Instructor

American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI)

Please  SHARE  this information with your network – THANK YOU!

May 06
0

Have a Summer CPR Party

By | ARE you ready to help?, Blog, Choking help, EasyCPR Adult class at Home, Safety Tips, What my student said... | No Comments

Have a Summer CPR Party

What IS a Summer CPR Party?

Well, are there people that you love?   Yes?   Oh, then you should HAVE a CPR Party!

As you know, the 2-hour certified CPR class teaches people two main things

1) what to do if someone is choking and

2) how to correctly do chest compressions for someone unconscious and not breathing – as you await the arrival of 911.

A CPR Party is YOU gathering together your family and friends for the 2-hour class.  As the 16-yr experienced Instructor, I arrive with my 3 sizes of mannequins and teach a great class for you.   II am EasyCPR-Denver because I make class smooth, focused and with fun humor.  After class, you have a fun social time, a party!   A cook out?   Playing games?    Telling jokes to each other?

cpr party 1

2-hr CPR certified course followed by a PARTY!

Student stories I’ve heard – both good and bad

I’ve been teaching CPR and Babysitting CPR youth classes (age 11+) for 16 years and, WOW, have I heard a lot of stories!    Students like to share things that have happened in their family or to friends and neighbors.    I think it’s great!   Everyone in the class learns from the story that’s been offered.   Sharing stories adds to retention of the skills they’re learning!

The topic is choking?   I am told choking stories.

The topic is difficulty breathing?   I am told breathing stories

The topic is injury due to falling?   I am told falling/impact stories

Story examples:

“my uncle choked one time and…”

“my little sister climbed in the dryer to hide…”

“my mom fell off a ladder and…”

“my grandma could hardly breathe and we…”

“my neighbor’s house had a gas leak and…”

Most stories have happy endings – but some don’t.

My eyes grow huge when I’m told things like:

“my mom dug her fingers down my little brother’s throat when he was choking”  (You don’t do that!)

“my friend told me you punch a hole in the throat if someone can’t breathe” (You don’t do that!)

“my uncle had chest pain so he went for a long jog”  (You don’t do that!)

 

Are you ready?

So, there is an emergency at your home…    Are you ready?

Have a CPR Party to become trained and confident.    Nothing matches that feeling.

Is your babysitter or nanny more trained that YOU are?    Are your teens trained?    Do you know what to do if someone chokes?    While everyone can choke, the people who choke most often are little kids and senior citizens.   What if grandpa chokes?

cpr party 2

You will be GLAD you got trained in CPR!

How does it work?

Why do you do compressions?   How does it work?   WHY does it work?   How does it help save a life?    Do you give the person breaths – or not?

I’ll be happy to tell you!   

I make class enjoyable and full of information and

skills practice that is easy to learn.   

It’s EasyCPR-Denver.com !

How you host a CPR Party:

  • Pick a date for the 2-hour class – I reserve that date for you.
  • I send you a link to send to your invitees so they can register/pay in advance. That way, class starts/ends on time.   (Minimum 6 people, maximum 14)
  • The day of class, everyone arrives and gets trained. Then you have a party!

Everyone feels confident and ready to save their loved ones.

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EasyCPR-Denver.com     visit my site for the list of upcoming classes

Connect with me on my Facebook page to keep receiving these tips!

Jean Lesmeister, 16 year Babysitting CPR, Adult CPR & First Aid Instructor

American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI)

Please SHARE this information with your network – THANK YOU!

 

Dec 29
0

Please give yourself CPR – get training, that is…

By | ARE you ready to help?, Blog, Choking help, EasyCPR Adult class at Home, Parenting Advice, Safety Tips, Yay - Saved a Life! | No Comments

Yes, give yourself CPR – get training

I’ve been teaching CPR for 15 years and I have some YES or NO questions for you:

  • When someone is coughing and choking, do you hit them on the back?

Answer:   No, medical directors state that it is counterproductive.    (You’re right – we used to train it, but it’s changed)

 

  • If a 3 year old is choking, do you stand them on a chair so you can perform the abdominal thrust?

Answer: No, they could fall and be injured.   You kneel down behind them for the thrust.

 

  • If someone insists they are OK and insists that you DO NOT call 911, do you comply and not call?

Answer:   You do not need permission to call 911 (only permission to touch someone’s body to give care).   Call !

 

  • If an elderly person is coughing and coughing, is alarmed to be choking, do you give them the abdominal thrust?

Answer:   No.   If they are coughing, the body is trying to expel it.   You only take action when they are utterly silent; no air is getting in or out; the body isn’t doing it.

 

  • If someone is woozy and not feeling well, do you encourage them to walk slowly and breathe deeply?

Answer:   No. Encourage them to lie down – they may lose consciousness and FALL down.   Then there are very likely added injuries.

 

  • If a very pregnant woman is choking, do you do nothing because the abdominal thrust will injure the baby inside her?

Answer:   There is a special choking technique to use for people in wheelchairs and pregnant women because you can’t thrust on their abdomen.

CPR – get training

Take just a moment and imagine three people you love dearly.    Do you see the three faces of those loved ones?

Would you give two hours of time to save their life?   Yes?   That’s what a  CPR/choking skills class takes – two hours.   For such a beautiful reason.

Statistics show that you are most likely to help someone you love who is choking, or who is unconscious and not breathing, or who is experiencing an altered state of consciousness.

Perhaps you know that an altered state of consciousness, confusion, low responsiveness to your questions could mean an allergic reaction, or possibly a diabetic emergency, or maybe a stroke.   Can you tell?

You don’t need to know what is the problem – you only need to do one thing, now.   You have Recognized An Emergency – so you call 911.     So much of helping loved ones is to be alert and SEE that something is wrong.

calling 911

Call 911 – Reach out for help

911 Dispatchers are there for you!

Do you envision 911 happens like this?   Step 1: You call 911   Step 2: You hear sirens as the truck arrives

Nope, this is what happens…

Step 1: You call 911   Step 2: Dispatch talks to you and helps you   Step 3:  You give care in that vital Window of Time  Step 4: You hear sirens as the truck arrives

Dispatch is amazing.   They are there for you –  to help you stay calm if you are very frightened.   They focus in on the questions to ask about the person in trouble.    That information helps you take action – that information helps them convey to the en route response team what they need to know.

What if they say to you, “Do you know how to give CPR compressions?”

Whoa

What if you say, “No, no I don’t…”

You don’t want that feeling!    Scared.  Helpless.

I (and all health care agencies) want you to be able to say, “Yes, yes, I do!”

You’re Smart.   For 2016, you are going to do it, right?  CPR – get training!

For 15 years, I have taught a youth (age 11+) Babysitting Safety/CPR class.   We work with dolls to diaper and burp, first aid, spending quality time, the choking skill and, yes, full CPR training.    I tell my young students as we begin class that I commend them for taking the 4 hour course to get trained before they babysit.   Many parents – and maybe the parents they will babysit for – are not trained.   Yes, the parents love their little precious children – but they STILL don’t get trained!    As babysitters, I tell them they may be more able to save a young life than those parents are!

confident-woman-image1

I can DO it!

If someone gets trained, there is a presence of confidence and security that I believe is priceless.   That person, in their heart and mind, has a background sense of being empowered to respond, to be able to save a life.

I consider it similar to knowing how to change a tire on your vehicle, as a possible example.   You may never have to change a tire but someone taught you and there is a quiet, silent confidence in the back of your mind of “I know what to do if I need to change a tire!”.   Nice feeling, that confidence that you are empowered to act.

Changing a tire?   Small potatoes.

Saving a loved one’s life?   Priceless.

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Jean Lesmeister, 15 year Babysitting CPR, Adult CPR & First Aid Instructor

American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI)

Please SHARE this information with your network – THANK YOU!

EasyCPR-Denver.com       Connect with me on Facebook

Jul 19
0

THINK – Cause No Further Harm

By | ARE you ready to help?, Blog, Choking help, What my student said..., Yay - Saved a Life!, Youth Babysitter Tips | No Comments

Stories about injuries and emergencies – Cause No Further Harm

One of the really rich things about teaching CPR, youth Babysitting CPR, First Aid, etc. these 15 years are the STORIES! I hear so many, many stories from students; of course, the happy ending stories are best. Students share how a family member got hurt doing this or that – but was OK.   A student shares how the neighbor fell off his roof – but was OK.  Some of the MOST amazing stories of all are when the youth (age 11-15) Babysitting CPR class shares their own youth injuries! They raise their hand and share.   For instance – one student ate $3.50 worth of quarters when a piggy bank broke before his parents found him. Another shared he hid in the clothes dryer and his mom turned it on, returning from a phone call.   Much screaming and shrieking ensued. A girl shared that she put beads into her ear canal wanting to wear “jewelry” like her mommy. And, of course, there’s the old “I put peanuts up my nose”.

Think Before You Act – Cause No Further Harm

But there are also the sad and heart breaking stories: how a neighbor family suffered the tragedy of SIDS with their infant, and how a sibling ended up for life in a wheelchair after a fall from high up.

osha-think-before-you-act-safety-signAccidents can stem from inattention, being careless, and can happen so quickly – but a mistake that always is at the forefront of my mind is when people “charge into action” without the pause to THINK, first, when there’s an accident. My most recent example of this type of NOT thinking first is a story shared by a man about an incident at his home with his two-year old son. Apparently, the child began to choke and so the grandma administered the abdominal thrust (Heimlich maneuver) – but wasn’t trained to do so. The wife thrust her fingers into the child’s mouth to grab the instruction – also not trained – nor do you put fingers in a mouth because it usually shoves the obstruction deeper. It turns out the obstruction came out of the throat, ultimately – so glad. BUT this man shared that out on the porch was sitting the grandfather who is a retired firefighter. You get my drift? Two untrained women start responding to the emergency – when a TRAINED person was THAT CLOSE. A perfect example of NOT thinking, not staying calm to make the best choice.  Ladies, don’t “help” the choking child – GO GET grandpa!

stay calm hands

As usual, I end each post with my message “get trained” – but this time I’ll add “THINK before you act.  Cause No Further Harm”.

Jean Lesmeister
EasyCPR-Denver.com