Imagine yourself at a family barbeque. The sun is shining. The laughter is rife. And then, Uncle Joe suddenly collapses. Panic begins to set in. What should you say or do? This is a more common scenario than you might think. Learning local cpr and first aid training could turn you from an innocent bystander to a lifesaver.

CPR stands for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. This sounds fancy. The chest compressions are combined with rescue breathing to keep blood flowing after a heart stop. This is like giving their hearts a little boost.

How can you perform CPR effectively? Imagine that you want to wake up someone who is in the deepest of sleeps. You place both hands in the middle of their chest. Lock your elbows. Then, you push fast, 100-120 times per minute. Imagine yourself doing chest compressions to the Bee Gees song “Stayin’Alive.” That song’s speed is perfect for CPR.

Rescue breaths. After 30 compressions, slightly tilt their head to the back. This will open up the airway. It’s important to keep the airway open. Pinch their nose closed (no one likes it when air escapes), cover their lips with yours, and take two deep breaths.

We’ll switch gears now and learn some basic first aid. Ever burnt your hand or cut yourself when chopping up vegetables? As important as knowing how you can cook without setting off your smoke alarms is to be able to perform basic first aid.

To clean cuts and scrapes, only use water. Hydrogen peroxide can damage tissues. When it is bleeding, use a clean towel to apply pressure. It’s like plugging an leaking faucet until you get help.

Burns can also be a problem. Burns can be treated with cool water. (Not ice-cold, as we are not making popsicles.) Afterward, cover with a bandage.

Have you seen someone choke before? It’s here that the Heimlich technique comes in. As you stand behind them and wrap your arms behind their waist, as if giving them an awkward back hug (we’ve seen it all), place a fist in the air above their navel. With your other arm, grab your fist. Give quick upward thrusts to get them to spit whatever is bothering them.

Remember that dramatic scene in movies when someone faints? Fainting is not as dramatic but it does happen. It happens when you are dehydrated, or if you stand for a long time without moving (hello concerts-goers!) You can elevate their legs slightly, or lay them on the back. This will help blood flow back to the vital organs.

All this might sound overwhelming to you, but trust me, it’s much easier than learning TikTok dancing! It’s important to practice these skills often so they are ingrained in your mind.

It is easier said than to do! But taking deep breaths helps slow down racing thoughts allowing clearer decision-making–like finding car keys buried under piles of laundry instead of tearing apart every room frantically searching!

Next time Uncle Joe decides barbecues aren’t interesting enough without drama, be ready. Don’t just stand there helplessly wringing their hands. Instead, step forward confidently and save lives – one heartbeat at a moment!

Preparedness is the key to becoming a hero, and not just a spectator.