Tip #3

Know basic CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Knowing what to do especially in the initial stages when you are caught in an emergency scenario can save a life or help reduce the severity of potential adverse effects during and after treatment. The American Heart Association and The Red Cross are the most common organizations that offer CPR training classes for both caregivers and healthcare providers. I would encourage you and your family members, including children above the age of 5 years old, to take a CPR course for caregivers. I tend to think that if my husband had not known how to perform CPR, my story would have been different right now. I became unconscious in less than 3 minutes of me requesting him to give me an aspirin and having taken it. Everything was happening so fast. I started to vomit while at the same time biting on my tongue. That was a perfect scenario that could have easily led to aspiration. With his CPR knowledge, he knew exactly what to do. That was to either keep me in an upright position or side-lying while keeping the airway open.