importance of cpr...UPDATE

Unfortunately I found out today that she did not make it. She had a severe asthma attack and they just could not get her airways to open on time. Very very sad news...her mom was so sad (this was her baby) but so appreciative of all we did for her daughter and grandson....I just wish we could have saved her......

I copied this from my facebook post...so some of you have heard it already...
  OMG..I had to do CPR on a lady tonight..I was driving home from dropping the girls at the mall. As I drove by a side street(right by Rhodes stadium) I looked down and saw a lady just collapse next to her SUV. I made a quick u turn and pulled down to... her. The lady in front of me had seen it and by the time I got back there a couple of folks were there. I ran up and just went into the process of starting cpr...
She was  barely breathing and had a pulse for about 6-7 minutes and then lost it. So another guy did the compressions and I did the rescue breathing. We did about 20 cycles before the ambulance got there. They were still doing cpr on her when the ambulance pulled off. I am not sure she will make it. She was having a severe asthma attack. She had pulled over and gotten out of her car..

all the asthma meds and machine were on the ground. Her son (probably 8 was just screaming when I got to her...it was NOT how I expected it to be. Thank God I had JUST 2 weeks ago took my refresher course for my new job. They have changed the "rules" for it and it is MUCH easier to remember. (30 compressions-2 breaths--of course you have to know where to press and all of the other stuff but it is a much easier number to remember)
 
Please say a prayer for her family and for her to be able to survive this event. I believe her name was Trina or Tonya...couldn't understand the son well....He did give me her moms # so I did call her and the lady's aunt came to the scene and picked up the little boy..........I hope she is okay...but if not I just have to remember that I did all of the right things to try to save her life.....\

PLEASE RENW YOUR CPR!! OR TAKE IT IF YOU HAVE NEVER....THE RULES HAVE CHANGED
 AND ARE MUCH EASIER TO REMEMBER AND BE CONFIDENT ABOUT....you just never know when you will need it.... really....I have been certified for at least 16 years (probably longer) and have NEVER needed it...

Thanks for the reminder! It's been 11-12 years since I took my initial course. To be honest, I've been so fat and out of shape I haven't taken the class because I couldn't get down on the floor, which our class requires. Just another way this surgery is going to change my life.

Thank you for being at the right place at the right time!

 WOW July !!!!  You are a hero !!!!!   Thanks for reminding us of the importance of CPR.   I have never taken the course but I am going to look into it.   I would be devistated had I ran across someone in need like that and couldn't do anything about it.    Thank God you happened upon that poor lady and that her son knew his grandmother's phone number.   Prayers definately going out for this family,.


Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian

Oh July, what a scary situation for you too.  I was at a campground many years ago and an older man had a heart attack and I had to perform CPR on him.  Unfortunately he didn't survive but I will never forget his wife's face as we worked on him.  She was very grateful that we tried even though we weren't successful.  Bless you for being there for that woman and her son. 

 I thought the new rules = no "breaths", just chest compressions.   I had read earlier this year that the Red Cross had changed to that policy, but was puzzled as to why such a major change  --  did they find out that the breaths really don't do that much for resuscitation?  

  Sorry you went through that ordeal, July  ..  but so glad you "dared to care".  Sometimes with asthma, nothing can be done ..  I had a client (deceased) whose mother was so upset over the sudden death of her 20 y.o. son.  She gave me all his medical records to see fi there was any malpractice committed by his doc (or by the ER that day).   The young man had been using rescue inhalers and the steroid asthma pills for his asthma for many years.   His g/f said he was using them very heavily the last couple of weeks or so before he died, which was unusual.   He was apparently standing by their apartment swimming pool when he suddenly collapsed.  An ambulance quickly arrived, but they couldn't resusctiate him and neither could the ER.  

   There didn't appear to be anything the docs could have done (the autopsy reported the death as pulmonary arrest due to acute asthma) ..  If anything, there was a question whether, if the young man had reported to his regular doc the fact that his attacks were becoming more severe/frequent during those last few weeks (he apparently didn't, according to his g/f), if a change in anything might have made a difference then, but who knows for sure.    Sometimes attacks are just not survivable.   

   Bottom line is to be sure to take your meds if you have asthma, and report to your doctor any noticeable changes in your symptoms a.s.a.p.  That is about all one can do.   

I think you may be thinking of part of their new guidelines....some people are so hesitant to give mouth to mouth that the CPR person told us that if mouth to mouth were not possible (ie mouth full of blood, etc...) that just chest compressions will at least keep the blood flowing through the body to the brain....

I need to go renew mine - it's been a while and I am sure it is expired - I am bad about thinking Tim will be there in an emergency b/c he is the one trained as an EMT and the one in our house that deals with all the medical stuff

so glad YOU took the time to get your training updated and were able to help - hard to lose someone you love for anyone but at least her family KNOWS someone did their best to save her and cared enough about another human to stop and help

especially calling the grandma so the little boy had a familar person with him - that also shows what a compasonate person you are

hugs
Danni