Today I had to take a class to update my CPR and first aid. Not the funnest way to spend a Saturday, but necessary. When I took the class two years ago the instructor told a lot of stories, listened to our stories, and was a genial guy. I was hoping for as much today. I arrived just before class started, no small feat for a mom of 3 boys with a stop to drop off a child before arriving at class! The instructor introduced himself, a sheriff’s officer, and let it be known he was a smart a$$. He started making jokes at the introduction and immediatly lightened up the room. I thought this day will be ok. We reviewed the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, how to perform the heimlich, good samaritan laws, and some trash talking about police vs. fire department. As a fire department wife, I smiled and played along. Then it came time to practice our CPR skills on the ‘annie dolls’. We stood up and gathered around for a demonstration. A student at the back, sat back down and someone asked if she was ok. The woman replied, ‘I think I’m going to faint.’ Our instructor rushed to the student’s side, and another student quickly joined the instructor and the ailing women. The second student we would later learn was a fully registered nurse. The instrutor and nurse helped the ailing women down to the floor and began real life first aid right before our eyes. For a split second a thought passed through my brain, ‘is this all for real?’ One look at the women on the floor and it was clear she was in dire need of some help. I asked if I should call 911 and Mike, our instructor said yes. I grabbed the nearest cell phone and spoke with 911 answering a myriad of questions like where we were located, and how old was the patient. While I was looking at the women’s feet I glanced at her face and took a stab  at her age being about 40. Another student corrected me that this lady wasn’t that old, she must be in her 30’s! Were it not for the seriousness of the situation I might have debated her age, but I continued to talk to the 911 operator. The 911 operator asked for my cell phone number, which of course I didn’t know because I grabbed the nearest cell phone. It happened to be Mike the instructors. He gave me a funny look when I asked for his number and I joked I was married and didn’t want to do anything with it. The 911 operator told me  help was on the way and to call back if we needed anything else. I moved outside. When these things happen, time seems suspended. It seemed we waited forever for the fire department to arrive. They came in and took over. The women who as it turns out was 38 years old, so I wasn’t too far off, was taken to the hospital and hopefully will heal quickly. As things settled down and we headed back into class one person pointed out to Mike our instructor, “we all passed right?” and I pointed out “I bet you were happy to see the fire department today.” He laughed, sort of. So if you are going to pass out or faint or have a heart attack, consider doing this in the middle of CPR training. Working together, we called her family before the paramedics ever arrived and tried to call AAA to come and pick up her car.

I guess  at the end of the day I am grateful. Grateful for my health and my family. Grateful  we have first responders, fire departments, paramedics, nurses and even sheriff’s officers who seem to be calm cool and collected in the face of an emergency. I think I handled everything ok but I had butterflies in my stomach for a long while after the incident. Shakey even. Turns out the nurse who assisted was a neo natel nurse, she knew her stuff. I’m grateful for calm nurses. May you my dear friends be in the presence of qualified help if you should fall seriously ill.