By Harold Reutter
harold.reutter@theindependent.com

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Independent/Barrett Stinson CPR Saturday participants, (clockwise from lower left) Norma Martinez, Dale Lewis, Edward Wood, Terry Barnum and Brian Woeppel, practice their breathing technique on dummies Saturday at the Central Plains Chapter of the American Red Cross in Grand Island. Independent/Barrett Stinson Grand Island residents Mel Boeckel and his wife, Luella Boeckel, pause for a moment Saturday during a CPR class to watch an instructional video before moving on to the next step in the life-saving procedure. Click Thumbnails to View

Of the nine people, some came because of work situations, some came at the urging of their church and one man said he was there because his wife told him to be.

While practicing CPR techniques on mannequins is a big part of becoming certified, instructor Nicole Devore had students stick their noses into the first aid/CPR workbook for the first 90 minutes of the three-hour class.

Devore noted that becoming certified required the students to take three 10-question tests, and answer at least eight out of the 10 questions on each test correctly to pass the course.

The tests covered three areas: What to do before CPR, CPR and AED (automatic external defibrillator).

When Devore said one of the tests covers "before" CPR, she really means it. One of the class's first discussions was on "overcoming barriers to act."

Devore showed a video involving a situation where people were hurt and the reactions of bystanders who could help. She noted the noise, the confusion and other factors that might tend to keep people from acting.

She covered the law on giving CPR, noting that people should quickly introduce themselves, say they are certified in CPR and ask if they can help the person. The injured person can say no.

If a person is unconscious and unable to respond, there is implied consent, Devore said.

Whenever possible, a person should use a CPR mask when administering CPR. Devore also demonstrated how to properly take off protective gloves after administering CPR. She said people should pinch the outside of the glove at the wrist and begin pulling it off until it is partially turned inside out.

Then, that partially turned-out glove should be used to start removing the second glove.

The goal is to avoid touching the inside of either glove as it is removed, which would risk the spread of a possible infection or contamination to the skin.

Devore also covered whether to call 911 first or begin helping the victim first. She noted that that depends on the situation. If what happened to the victim was unwitnessed, the best course of action is to administer CPR for two minutes and then call 911.

In that situation, immediate care is needed because no one would know how long the person has been unconscious and possibly not breathing.

Witnessing the incident that caused the person to lose consciousness would create the opportunity for a quick cell phone call to 911 before starting to administer CPR.

All that was covered before the first hour of class had passed, with the mannequins lying silently on the floor. But they certainly did not go unused.

The nine students spent the entire second half of the class working with the mannequins to perfect their techniques on CPR.

After finishing with the mannequins, the students went back to their seats to take the three tests. After they had had the 30 questions on the tests, Grand Island had nine more people certified to use CPR in an emergency situation.

Devore said yesterday was CPR Saturday, with the Red Cross offering CPR classes in a number of Central Nebraska communities. She said the classes were all taught by volunteers and were free of charge.