“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God” –1 John 4:7
February is National Heart Month. As I write this, I an overwhelmed with the news about the Tragedy in Tucson!! The sadness, grief, and disbelief bring us right to the heart of the matter—”Beloved, let us love one another”!! Where was the LOVE when the young man’s anger was not noticed and treated; where was the LOVE when politics became a battle of anger; where is the LOVE when we cannot communicate in polite, discourse and LISTEN to one another? We could stop with our questions, yet I see answers abound—The LOVE was in the heart of the young man who held an injured friend; the LOVE was in the servant who provided CPR to a dying child; the LOVE was in the hand of each public servants who cared for the injured; the LOVE can be in our hearts as we pray for the grieving, injured, and for forgiveness from GOD for the angry confused young man and his family. “Love is of God” and we must let it prevail.
For February, I encourage each of you to update your skills in Emergency Procedures. If you are an Usher, Greeter, Sunday School Teacher, or Volunteer Visitor–it is impairitive that you update CPR to C-A-B!! From the American Heart Association comes the update: “2010 Guidelines for CPR and ECC (Emergency Cardiovascular Care) update the 2005 guidelines.
Stop into your local Fire Station to arrange for updated instruction.
- When administering CPR , immediate chest compressions should be done first.
- Untrained lay people are urged to administer Hands-Only CPR (Chest compressions only)
- AHA is re-arranging the ABC’s of CPR (Airway-Breathing-Compressions) to CAB (Compressions-Airway-Breathing).
- The 40 year plan of ABC’s delayed the essential circulation of oxygen-rich blood through the body.
- Changing the sequence to C-A-B for adults and children (excluding infants) allows all rescuers to begin chest compressions right away for anyone who is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
- Call 911 and push hard and fast on the center of the chest until professional help or an AED arrives.
- Chest compressions, started immediately, should be a little faster, at a rate of 100 x/minute.
- Rescuers should avoid ‘leaning’ on the chest between compressions to allow full ventilation.
- Rescuers should avoid stopping chest compressions and avoid excessive ventilation.
Another consideration for February is to be certain you have had your flu immunization.
CDC Recommends every person 6 months or older receive an annual flu vaccine. Recognize the symptoms of flu;Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue you throw immediately in the trash;
Wash hands often & use antibacterial gel frequently (before serving communion, after shaking hands, & before eating); and stay home if you have flu-like symptoms.
BE WELL, BE PREPARED, and LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Alice Stephenson BSN,RN,PN