The Bee Gees and CPR!

This is a public service announcement about CRP.


Every year for the last 13 years, I go to our local American Red Cross Chapter for recertification in CRP and the First Aid I go for every other year. Mainly, I do this as part of a requirement for my job as the Program Manager for a company that provides 24 hour support to adults with developmental disabilities but I would do this even if it weren’t for my job. I have had to use this valuable information on more than a few occasions and not just at work but in my regular everyday life, from a person choking, to having seizures to passing out cold and dropping to the floor, etc. Luckily, so far (knock on wood) I have not had to perform CPR on anyone but I would be able to do so if it was needed and I know that I would not hesitate to help anyone in need.


Along time ago, I was always afraid that I would not be able to keep it together well enough or long enough in an emergency situation; well I didn’t give myself enough credit, as most people don’t. I’m a take charge kind of person and usually react pretty calmly and then lose it after it’s all over. Most people are afraid to get involved in an emergency situation for a large variety of reasons but CPR can and does save lives. Most of the time people will not respond because they either have not had the training or they are afraid. Over the years I have seen the CPR techniques change to make it simpler for people to remember how to do it.


For the last few CPR classes that I have taken, the American Red Cross is teaching that you administer CPR to the beat of “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees. Now you know that once you get that song in your head, you won’t be able to get it out! LOL Pretty much everyone knows the song too so it is a great way to remember the rhythm for CPR which is 100 beats per minute. The number of compressions has changed to 30 compressions for every rescue breath that you give. Let me tell you, it does get tiring very quickly but it can make the difference for someone either living or dying. In fact, it triples a person’s chances of survival! So I encourage you all to take a CRP/First Aid class! It is so worth it because you just never know where or when you will use it, or on who you will need to use it on. Your own child, your Mother, Father, best friend or spouse?


This was on ABC's Good Morning America. Check out the American Red Cross , sign up for a class, donate, give bloood or even volunteer!




Sing it, you know that you want to!



Have a safe weekend!!!