Took the ARC course about a year or two ago. Bought an MDI cpr microshield and glove kit immediately and it is always with me. Takes up next to no room. Buy extras to keep in the car and BOB kit, kayak, etc and to practice with so your familiar with it when the need arises. Nothing worse than not being able to open it under stress.

The catalog number or part number for the one I have is 70-160.

I think next I am going to take an EMT course. I was raised a surgeons son with many family member in the business. I'm the black sheep looking in from the outside.

"...I not sure I could stand there and sit on my hands..."

I know what you mean. Maybe I should go back to stuffing a CPR shield into a cargo pocket, just in case...

I am with you OBG. When I was a firefighter/1st responder we never, never would go bareback....and this holds true for today. I carry a mask with a one way valve at all times in the 1st aid kit.

I also have done CPR more times then I wish to think about sometimes. In total, I have only been involved with 2 successful resuscitations and you are correct, they are better then none....

It might be very entertaining to watch you try.

Slight clarification here: I was always taught that once you've been identified as being some sort of trained individual, then you do have the legal responsibility to act.

So, if you have a big Star Of Life on your window, or wear your "Mayville EMS" hat or something, then you actually do need to stop and render aid. A big reason I don't do that much anymore.

I don't think that is true everywhere when not on the clock.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty_to_rescue

Welcome to the group and congratulations on completing an ARC course. If you are considering taking an EMT course, first join a local Fire and/or EMS Department. To the best of my knowledge in all 50 states, an EMT is sanctioned under a government entity (through certification or license) such as, Department of Health, Department of Transportation or Emergency Medical Agency/Institute (there may be others). Most, if not all require you to be a member of a local Fire and/or EMS and operate under a Local Medical Director Department (one exception is for commercial ambulances services, which have their own Medical Director), who determines what local optional protocols to implement for that locality.

Wilderness EMT may be an alternative to consider, in that the training may be obtained though one of the commercial companies. However, WEMT may not be recognized or may still be sanctioned by your state with the same requirements as a standard EMT program.

Pete

Most of the time, if you see somebody ambulating go down and don't get up after you open her airway and give her a few compressions, you will be needing an automatic external defibrillator.

All the ventilating and cardiac massaging in the world won't help a bit, if the conduction system isn't working. You might get a little oxygen to the brainstem, but that only means you're looking at twenty years in a persistent vegetative state instead of dead. Odds of leaving the hospital in a position other than supine zipped up in plastic are less than 5%.

Yeah, OK, it's a little over a thousand dollars, but that's just a couple of PLB's right? Besides, you're EDCing because you want to help, so get the right equipment. If not, just resign yourself to the fact that for every minute that goes by without defibrillation, survival goes down by 10% or more.

Improving Survival From Sudden Cardiac Arrest (external link to JAMA)

PS. I have done mouth-to-mouth resuscitation just once when I was a student and came across a "Found Dead" on rounds with the Critical Care fellow. She smacked me good on the back of the head and started Ambu-bagging. It's a strange feeling to actually see that chest rise as you blow in and hear that rattly exhalation sound. Still remember it all these decades later.

PPS. If it sounds like I'm a firm believer in everyone having an AED, it's only as much as Doug is a firm believer in everyone having a PLB. The technology is here to save lives, so go get it!