BS: The Gift Of Life

Subject: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 09:51 AM

My sister-in-law drove with her husband to Baldwinsville, NY to meet some friends for lunch. They dined, had a wonderful time and as they chatted over the last of the wine a woman from another table shouted "Does anyone know the Heimlich Maneuver?"
Without missing a beat, Deb ran to the woman, did it all right, and saved her life. In the aftermath, she got hugs from the woman, the waitress and her husband.
I am in tears as I type. To me it is enormous. She literally saved a life. That woman will go on. An entire continuum will go on all because Deb acted.
WOW!

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: jeffp
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 10:26 AM

Well done, Deb!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 10:45 AM

Fantastic, Sins! A split second is all it takes. I have had the privilege just once when a little girl was going under and not coming back up in a swimming pool. The water was heavy, a mineral hot springs, and it seemed to take me to get to her, but I did and she lived.

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 01:12 PM

I had the privilege as a Police officer...many years ago,,,of saving lives...but that was just my job. Yes it gave me a great buzz of course but what would have been said about me if I had not made the attempt to save them?

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 01:21 PM

In theory I know how, but I've never had occasion to carry it out. I think I'd as soon not have to - but it'd be desperate to be in a situation where it was called for and not know what to do.

Here is an instruction page on how to carry it out.

Congratulations Deb!

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 08:58 PM

A friend of mine, while recently playing in a geezer's basketball league, suffered the tragedy of standing there with twelve or fifteen other guys as one of them died of a heart attack. A forty something guy with little kids.

Congratulations to Deb certainly.

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 09:09 PM

Well done. Boy, it's a shock when such things happen. One never expects them.

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 10:10 PM

Recently I had ten (10) members of the library staff trained in CPR and the use of an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator). This was because we'd applied, via the Fire Department, for an AED for the Library. The AED arrived late the week before last; last week the cabinet came and the whole thing was up and ready last Friday.

I will have the rest of the staff trained in CPR/AED as time goes on, and then I will start them on Basic First Aid.

Yes, I was one of the 10. And yes, the Heimlich Maneuver was taught.

If you are unsure of how to do it, do something anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 10:18 PM

The main point appears to be to apply pressure just below the ribcage, not on the ribcage.

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 12:40 AM

That's fantastic, Rapaire, esp. about the AED. Those should be much more available, imo.

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: KT
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 12:52 AM

We were having dinner one night when my husband began choking. He was the one in the family who had medical training. I considered, momentarily, calling for help but knew we didn't have that long. The Heimlich came in handy and worked well....the SECOND time I did it. (the second time I didn't worry about ribs, and gave it all I could.) He sat down, and we continued our dinner. Ten minutes later, after having time enough to consider the gravity of the situation, I burst into tears!

Something to think about.....There is a phenomenon that sometimes occurs when there is a group of people assembled at the scene of an emergency. People often think that they don't have enough experience to handle the situation so they often wait for another, more experienced person to act. Sometimes there is no one more experienced.

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 06:52 PM

He sat down and you continued your dinner? I would have headed to the wine.

People often die choking because they are embarrassed, head for the Rest Room, and die there. All together: the universal choking sign - hands to neck and look desperate!

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 07:02 PM



I find that very impressive.

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 11:03 PM

There is a new system for training on the AED with a DVD and a kit with a practice doll that they are testing at the university where I work. It's a little impersonal, but it works. And I got to take it home with me for review.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 11:42 PM

My daughter and I were on my bed watching the Queen open Parliament or some such pageantry on television. We were peeling potatoes. I like to eat them raw, so was popping small bites into my mouth. Well, one got stuck. Thank goodness she knew what to do, but not quite hard enough. I remember throwing myself across the top of a chair back, but it finally took her and I doing both to dislodge that piece. I did break out in tears; it is so instantaneous, that cutting off of breath, and you realise in the blink of an eye this could be IT. I am gratefull she was with me and could do what needed to be done.

Something keeps me hanging aroound. *bg*

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 12:21 AM

Put your arms around the person from the rear. Grasp make a fist with one hand and put the other under it. Place the top of the fist immediately under the sternum -- where the ribs come up and meet in the middle you'll find the end of the sternum (find your own and you can then find it on others). QUICKLY and FORCEFULLY jerk your fist upwards -- you want to force a sudden, violent, burst of air back up out of the throat by quickly compressing the diaphram. That burst of air dislodges the chunk of whatever is blocking the airway.

Or you can stand in from and give the person a good hard punch in the solar plexus. That should work as well.

But the key is to push quickly and violently upwards to dislodge the piece.

Now, boys and girls, here's how to do an emergency tracheotomy using only a pocket knife and a ball-point pen barrel....

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: KT
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 01:51 AM

SRS, I actually participated in that training three weeks ago. It was the best CPR class I've ever attended. The stopping of the DVD and having the opportunity to practice right away served as immediate reinforcement of what was just reviewed in the movie and proved very effective as a learning tool.

Also, the AEDs these days are very easy to use. I'm told that the more expensive ones are the way to go. The one I practiced on told everything you needed to know.

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 05:54 AM

how to do an emergency tracheotomy using only a pocket knife and a ball-point pen barrel....

Ha! Learned that one way back in '76 in EMT class; fascinating stuff!

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 09:22 AM

Heck, my little brother learned that in USAF survival school back in 1969. He taught us, using our late brother Hermione as a teaching dummy. Herm now whistles out of both sides of his throat and is considering a run for Congress.

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 09:22 AM

Again, I know it in theory. I rather hope I'll never have to do it.

Artificial respiration is the other one - only they changed the rules on what to do on that ones. And there's the kiss of life - but evidently that's not recommended these days - Drop 'kiss of life', urge medics.

Life can get confusing for the would-be Good Samaritan...

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 10:26 AM

About 15 years back we belonged to a group of friends who played Euchre once a month. We also loved to eat so the night was filled with good talk, cards, and always great food.

During a food break one night, "Ol' John" choked on a piece of cauliflower from the Veggie Dip plate. My best friend Denny and I got to him at the same time and looked at each other for a brief moment. As I was the bigger of the two of us, it was easier for me to get round our barrel chested friend John. Denny steadied him while I did the Heimlich and on the second pump, we got it.

Much back clapping and thanking and all ensued but to us it just seemed no more than passing a napkin to someone. It was no great shakes. Probably the most interesting thing to me was that after years of working together and our close friendship, Denny and I needed no words to determine what we were going to do. Denny died back in '98 and I miss him every day even now.

Anyway, I think that's what most people would do when confronted with the situation. We're all basically good and helpful people when given the chance. Those who aren't.........well, fuck em'...........

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 10:39 AM

But being basically good and helpful isn't always quite enough, without knowing what is the right thing to do.

Remember the story about the biker with a pillion rider who's getting cold, so he puts his jacket on back to front. Then he falls off, but the rider doesn't notice for a mile or so - then he drives back, finds his friend on the side of the road, cold and still, surrounded by concerned passers-by.

"He seemed all right at first, but his head was twisted round. Since we turned it back the right way he hasn't made a sound..."

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 08:18 PM

Ah geeziz Mac...........I started riding motorcycles in 1964 and I think I heard that joke in about '65..........It hasn't improved with age.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 09:01 PM

Well, Spaw, you do it. I don't wanna touch 'em.

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: SINSULL
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 09:42 PM

Yeah Spaw. Imagine trying to F**k all the unhelpful people who have crossed your path over the years. The first who comes to mind is the young lady helping you put cream in your coffee.
The there was the bank manager with a broken calculator who manually multiplied 14 x $240 and came up with $950. I told him it was $3500. Then told me to pay what I wanted and the main office would correct it. SIGH!

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 08:18 PM

Yeah but I wasn't so much telling it for the joke but as a reminder that being helpful isn't enough in itself, and can even be the reverse. (For example a Heimlich Manoeuvre on someone who isn't choking but is having a heart attack is not a good idea.)

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: SINSULL
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 08:50 PM

All the more reason to cross both hands at your throat and let people know you are choking.

Good point - I saw a man pass out on the street. I went to call 911. When I came back the man was conscious but an aggressively helpful CPR expert was trying to give him mouth to mouth and genuinely upsetting the man. It made it a thousand times worse. The victim is fighting him off and trying to get up; a man standing by is screaming "He's breathing! Leave him alone."; the expert is forcing his mouth on the floundering man. Fortunately an EMS team showed up and sorted it out.

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: Rapparee
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 07:47 AM

Maybe the CPR guy just really liked the guy who'd collapsed?

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: Rumncoke
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 08:50 AM

If not giving mouth to mouth, you still need to check that there is a clear airway, oh - and watch out for vomiting, as a lot of people will throw up if repeatedly jogged in the middle. It does mean that they are recovering, but turn them on their side quickly, or they will inhale their vomit and it can do a lot of damage to their lungs.

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 07:05 PM

They have all kinds of workshops at some folk festivals, over and above the music related ones - Alexander Technique, Tai-Chi, Yoga. Perhaps First Aid and stuff like the Heimlich Manoeuvre would be a useful addition.

Subject: RE: BS: The Gift Of Life
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 08 Sep 07 - 09:45 AM

I was in a store once where an elderly woman told a gripping story. Her son was a doctor, and he had three young daughters. The family went to a resort, which gave the two older daughters sheets of stickers as a gift.

A couple days later, the baby stopped breathing! The father was a doctor, but as the grandmother said, "You don't know what to do when it's your own." She grabbed the baby, held her upside down and rapped her smartly on the back. Out came a glob of mucus with a sticker in the middle.

I don't know if that is the best way to deal with a baby, but it worked in this case. I have been suspicious of stickers ever since.