Years ago when I worked in Washington, I was getting off at the Smithsonian metro station to go to my office. I paid my fare at the turnstile and walked toward the escalators to exit the station. There was a small crowd at the base of the escalators and as I walked by I saw a man lying on the ground with emergency medical people surrounding him and hooking him up to medical equipment. The man’s shirt was gone; either torn or cut from his body, and his skin color was an unnatural gray.
I never found out what happened to the man, but the image of his lifeless body and deathly color stayed with me for some time.
Not long after that I signed up for a Red Cross class in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and received a certificate saying I was able to help pump blood and oxygen through a lifeless body until emergency personnel arrive. I never had to do that. About four years ago I took the course again.
I wrote a story for the Catholic Herald’s back to school issue about the diocesan Office of Risk Management’s efforts to train parish and school staff in CPR and automated external defibrillators. The diocese believes this can save lives. The evidence says that it can.
Watching students train made me think again of that man near the elevators. I’m thinking about taking the course again.
The class takes about eight hours and costs under $100. It’s a small price for life.
For the full story, go here.