Esotropiart

Wednesday night I took advantage of an interesting opportunity provided by my employer. A man who works in the emergency medical field was scheduled to come to our warehouse to provide free CPR and AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) training. Even though the class was a full 4 hours and would last until 9:45pm on a work night, I decided, "Why not go?", the exact thing my pastor asked the congregation when considering the possibility of going on a short missions trip to Brazil . Why not go, since this is something that would ordinarily be a paid class at a college or medical facility? Why not go learn something that could enable me to potentially save a life? I couldn't think of any reason against going other than laziness, so I overcame my apathy and stayed for the training.

The instructor was incredibly qualified and very highly skilled. He was involved with the scientists who invented the original AED technology here in Portland in the early 1970s. He is actively out on the streets saving lives all the time. I cannot think of anyone more qualified to teach such a class, and he really did a great job. Everyone was impressed with his ability to convey this important information with such clarity while breaking down the fear of those in the room by radiating confidence.

So can I now perform CPR and make use of an AED device? Yes. Can I save lives? Who knows. CPR is really just delaying impending death and doesn't usually revive a person (even though the movies make it seem that way). There is about a 10 minute window of possibility for helping to save a person whose brain or heart has stopped functioning. AEDs are more likely to bring a person back to a sustainable condition, but the real life savers are those who arrive on the scene several minutes later with flashing lights and blaring sirens.

Interestingly enough, CPR and other emergency response procedures are constantly being scrutinized by leading minds. If my training is to remain certified and useful, I will have to take a similar class every two years. Our instructor informed us that CPR and using AEDs has become much simpler in recent years due to some of this examination and study. Where training used to involve a confusing and hard to remember list of steps, now there is a simple 3 step process. Who is going to remember a huge list of steps regarding something that is probably never practiced? Simplification actually saves lives.

A large part of our instructor's message was geared towards the goal to get AEDs in every public place and making available the universal training necessary to make the public aware of such a marvelous device. In the future, the value of our human lives will be reflected in the presence of a device that is intended and able to save lives. Currently every structure is required to have a fire extinguisher. Imagine the benefit of requiring a device that can save life, rather than wood and stone. The implications are astounding. The price of AEDs has decreased significantly since their conception, but the cost still keeps this widespread circulation from being a true reality.

In the end, though I would love to offer another human being hope in a desparate situation, I hope and pray to never have need of use these new skills.