by BOB GRYLLS
Whitewater Reporter
WHITEWATER REGION (Beachburg) — Following a free CPR course in Beachburg last Thursday evening, 25 people will have the opportunity to help save a life if needed.
With a grant from Dupont and Pioneer (a seeding company and supplier to local M & R stores) to the Renfrew County Paramedic Service, a free CPR-AED course was offered.
The talk and demonstrations, including hands-on, was presented by Renfrew County paramedics Robert Blackwell, with 27 years experience and Gord Pena, with 38 years experience. Rhonda Chaput, Administrative Assistant for Emergency Services was the co-ordinator for the evening course with daughter Brettany Chaput assisting her.
Mr. Blackwell began with some grim statistics: 78,000 Canadians each year have cardiovascular problems, generally in the workplace or at home. 40,000 of them die suddenly and are mostly in the age-range of 30 to 65 years. In Renfrew County there is one cardiovascular problem per day on average. Alarmingly, in 80 percent of the cases no CPR is administered prior to the arrival of the paramedics, whose response time is within eight minutes 90 percent of the time in the Pembroke, Petawawa and Eganville areas.
The evening covered a full range of topics in CPR (chest compressions of 100 per minute and giving breaths) and of the AED, which were well delivered and engaging. There were individual hands-on demonstrations for CPR and AED for adults, children and infants. One key thing to remember when applying breaths after 30 compressions is to block the nose and tilt the head back and check to see if the chest rising. If not, repeat until professionals arrive.
CPR techniques have been upgraded over the years. This program was a certification for one year. It’s advised that each certifier take a refresher course each year to keep the certification.
For someone who is choking, squeeze from behind just above the belly button, lock your hands and thrust in two inches deep to push air from the lungs to dislodge the obstruction. There are variations of this method. For instance, if not able to get your arms around someone or if that woman is pregnant, put your arms under the armpits and your hands at the centre of the chest. Other options were covered such as pounding on the back, while standing or bent over a chair, even procedures to perform on an infant that is choking.
Overall the two-and-a-half hour class was more comprehensive and more confidence-building than most of the participants expected.
