Heart Starter

Heart Starter

 Are you a Pilates Teacher or Personal Trainer or Yoga Instructor or human being who works around other human beings? And are you CPR and AED certified? If you’re one of those beings I mention in the first sentence, then you must consider the value of being CPR and AED certified. Please.

We take so many things for granted in Life. That is a beautiful privilege. People seem so strong; able to live through incredible traumas. Then sometimes people seem so fragile; the unexpected twist can change everything. In order to survive each day well without being nervous that every move we make might be the end of our days, we must compartmentalize the fragility of Life and live strongly. We must. However, if we are truly wise, we prepare ourselves for Trouble especially when we step in Trouble’s path many times a day.

If you are a Pilates Teacher, Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor or human being who works around other human beings, then learn how to manually pump a heart (CPR) and re-start a heart (AED). If you are a trainer of any sort, then you must keep a defibrillator in your studio or gym.

Your client, Mr. Green, is 70 years old. He plays golf, swims and you think he is in generally good health. However, when he does more strenuous exercises (Pilates: The Hundred, The Abdominal Series) you notice he gets red in the face. Hmmm…you cue him with breath because you recognize this strain and that he’s not exhaling. Mr. Green had angioplasty 10 years ago and didn’t even think to mention it to you because it was so long ago. Don’t you think you need to know CPR and AED?

Your client, Mrs. Rogers, is 76 years old. She has emphysema, heart disease, diabetes, a chronically sore lower back and depression.  Don’t you think you need to know CPR and AED?

What exactly is CPR and AED?

 CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation):  This is the technique to manually pump oxygenated blood through a body whose heart and lungs have stopped. You manually pump the heart and breathe into the person until the paramedics come. You cannot start a heart that has stopped this way. If the person suddenly pops up awake and alive while you’re administering CPR, then that person didn’t actually need CPR. Lucky! You cannot actually restart a heart without an appropriate electric shock.

AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Training:   This is the technique of combining CPR and electric shock to a stopped heart. With a proper portable defibrillator, you can check to see if your client/patient’s heart has actually stopped and administer the appropriate electric shock as well as CPR. It’s incredible! And…your responsibility.

In both cases, with CPR and AED, you absolutely must call 911 and get the paramedics to come to you immediately. Still, wouldn’t it be great for you to both be able to manually pump a heart and start a heart if ever needed?

I pray you will never need to use your CPR and AED skills. I pray you will never have to use your defibrillator, but you must have one.

Did you know that by law in Los Angeles, you must have a defibrillator in your studio or gym? BY LAW. Yes, they are expensive, but do you know what’s more expensive? Not being able to save a person’s life in your studio or gym.

You don’t own your own fitness facility? You’re renting space or an independent contractor or employee? Great! Get your training in CPR and AED! And strongly encourage the studio or gym owner to get their portable defibrillator! Remember: It’s the law!

I believe that absolutely everyone ought to be properly trained in CPR and AED. Everyone. Why should it only be doctors, nurses, paramedic, firemen, policemen (and Pilates Teachers, Personal Trainers and Yoga Instructors). Will there always be one of these fellows around when one is needed? Have you noticed as you go through the airport there are defibrillators in compartments in the walls just like fire extinguishers nowadays. Wherever there are people, there are hearts. Those hearts need to be cared for in so many ways.

Please get your certification and get it renewed appropriately and make sure your fitness facility has a portably defibrillator!

Here are a few resources for your certification and purchasing of defibrillators:

American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/courses/aed.html

American Heart Association: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3011764

Philips Automatic External Defibrillator: http://shop.medical.philips.com/phstore/catalog/redcross.asp?origin=5_us_en

***As always:  If you would like to make a comment, please do so!  If you have a request of a topic you would like me to write about, please let me know!  Thank you for reading!  Enjoy!***