Manager Uses CPR Training to Save a Life

When sitting in an American Red Cross course learning CPR, it can be difficult to imagine the circumstances where you’ll have to use the skills learned to save a life. In most cases, we may never know what emergency will arise, but we can be ready. Whether checking for breathing, performing compressions or even calling for help, knowing how to quickly respond in these critical moments helps save lives.

 Panera Bread Production Manager Larry Meier knew something serious was wrong when he saw his coworker, Dale, collapsed on the floor of the company’s Commerce City Fresh Bread facility. Meier immediately went to Dale’s side while instructing another coworker to call 911. Meier began chest compressions and continued administering CPR until paramedics arrived about four minutes later.

His actions kept vital blood pumping to Dale’s brain and ultimately saved his life. Meier first learned CPR in the 1970s and more recently received refresher training from an employer.

 “Dale’s my friend and I’ve had the training. I knew something had to be done, and with the training it was instant – I just started it and did it,” Meier said. He added, “It comes back real fast. You’re nervous while you’re doing it, but it comes back.”

The Red Cross presented Meier with a Lifesaver Award last week in honor of his outstanding actions that fateful day last month. The Red Cross Lifesaver Award is given to recognize a lifesaving act performed by an individual who utilized skills learned through Red Cross health and safety training.

“I’m so glad he knew CPR …Everybody should take a test and learn CPR,” Dale said.

 One quarter of Americans say they’ve been in a situation where someone needed CPR. If you were one of them, would you know what to do? The ability to perform CPR can make a lifesaving difference when someone suffers a cardiac or breathing emergency.

The Red Cross trains millions of people each year in CPR and AED and offers several training options, including a 30-minute Citizen CPR class which teaches Hands-Only CPR and full CPR training. All First Aid, full CPR and AED training carry a 2-year certification. You can find more information and register for a class by visiting the CPR and AED page on our web site.

In addition to training, the Red Cross can help you obtain an AED for your home, business or organization and offers AED program management, maintenance and service.

Gold For the Gold... In Water Safety!

     There’s something inspirational about watching swimmers go for Olympic gold every four years. And while most of us aren’t on track to stand on the podium, we can all take a lesson on water safety.
    The Red Cross swimming and water safety program is set up to teach everyone—children to adults—how to swim. In addition, it covers basic water safety rules, how to tell if a swimmer is in distress or is drowning and how and when to call for emergency help. You also learn how to help someone in trouble in the water while keeping safe yourself.
    Contact your local Red Cross chapter to find out which aquatic facilities in your area offer Red Cross swimming and water safety courses.
    Even if you already know how to swim, practicing water safety is always important. Follow these simple steps to enjoy the water safely this summer:
    Know before you go—don’t swim if you don’t know if it’s safe. Wear a life jacket if you are unfamiliar with the area.
    Always closely supervise children whenever they are near any body of water. Weak or inexperienced swimmers should wear U. S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets anytime they're around water.
    Swim with a buddy in a designated area that is supervised by lifeguards. Recheck the water and weather conditions on arrival and during your stay.
   Heed the warnings and special instructions of lifeguards or other authorities as well as flags or signs.
  Walk carefully into open waters; do not dive.
   Know how to respond to an emergency (including lifesaving CPR skills), how to tell if a swimmer is in distress or is drowning, and how and when to call for emergency help.
    If you have a pool or hot tub, keep lifesaving gear handy. Always have on hand a ring buoy, life jackets, rope, pole or other object that can be used to help a person in trouble. Be sure to have a first aid kit, cordless phone and emergency contact information by the pool.
     And remember, swimming in lakes, rivers and oceans can be safe and fun at a designated swimming area that is protected by lifeguards; however, if these elements are not in place, always assume that any natural body of water is too dangerous for swimming.

Pool Safety Week- Portable Pools

Portable Pools-Keep them Safe

Portable pools vary in size and height, from the tiny blow up to larger designs that hold thousands of gallons of water.  They are easy to use, affordable and fun for the whole family. Unfortunately, portable pools can be deadly and present a real danger to young children.

Smaller portable pools should be emptied and put away after every use to avoid any children getting in when they are unsupervised. Once the larger portable pool is set up, ensure a high level of supervision at all times. Try to fence in pools and encourage neighbors to do the same. Keep larger pools covered and remove access ladders when adults are not present.  Install alarms on doors and fences leading to the pool area so you know when someone enters the area.

No one is “drown-proof.” Teach all children and any one you allow access to you pool to swim, float and other basic life-saving skills. Try to have one person in your household trained in first aid and CPR so you can always be prepared in case of an emergency. For more information on portable pools, how to take swimming lessons or information on how to take a first aid/CPR course, visit www.redcross.org.  

Pool Safety Week- Pools Should Be Fun Not Fatal

Pools should be fun not fatal

Swimming pools should be a place of happiness, relaxation and fun. Yet each year many families experience tragedies because of drowning and other pool injuries. Many of these tragedies could have been prevented. Adding an extra safety step in and around the water can make the difference around your pool. 

Too many families have experienced a close call when a child has a swimming, submersion, or even the scariest- a near drowning incident. These injuries could lead to broken bones, permanent brain damage, or the unfortunate-death.  Over three quarters of reported fatalities in pools were children younger than five.

The positive way of looking at pool dangers is that most injuries and drownings are preventable. By putting safety behaviors and systems into practice you can limit injuries even further. Use barriers and alarms on and near your pool. Create a pool safety toolkit to keep near the pool at all times. That way if the worst happens you are ready to respond.

Your pool safety kit should include a basic first aid kit, a pair of scissors (to cut hair     clothing or a pool cover) if needed during an emergency, a charged telephone to call 911 and a floatation device.

For more information on water safety or how to build your pool safety kit visit www.redcross.org.

Pool Safety Week- What's Your Pool Safety System?

What’s your pool safety system?

It’s great comfort when you own a pool knowing that it is safe for your family, neighbors, and any visitors that may be using it. This comfort comes from adopting and practicing as many water safety measures as possible. You never know how well a safety system works until it is needed. No safety system is foolproof, but each protective measure used in conjunction with adult supervision and other safety systems such as barriers, alarms and safety covers narrows the chance of incidents even further.

An outdoor swimming pool barrier is a physical obstacle that surrounds an outdoor pool so that access to the water is limited to adults. A successful pool barrier prevents a child from getting over, under, or through to gain access to the pool without adult supervision. It also gives parents additional time to locate a child before water can become a danger when they leave the house without supervision. Barriers commonly include a fence, wall or gate.   The barrier should be at least four feet high or taller and should not have foot or handholds that could help children climb it. Vertical fence slats should be less than four inches apart to prevent a child from squeezing through. If the fence is chain link, then no part of the diamond shaped opening should be larger than 1-3/4 inches.

Alarms are good to install on doors, gates, windows and pools to alert adults when unsupervised children enter the area of the pool without permission.  There are a number of alarms that can be used around a pool. Alarms can mount on the pool gate which are magnetized and switch the alarm on when the gate is opened. House doors that lead to the pool can serve as an extra barrier with an alarm. Pool-floating or wave alarms mounted on the edge of the pool sound when water has been displaced.  Check the alarm once it is installed that it can be heard from inside the home.

Pool covers add to pool safety because they give the message of “pool closed” for children. When properly in place over the pool it provides a high level of safety for children by inhabiting their access to the water. It is important to remove ladders and slides when using covers on pools. A cover should withstand the weight of two adults and a child to allow a rescue if an individual falls onto the cover. A pool cover should also be easily and swiftly removed from the water to respond to emergencies.

If you would like more pool safety tips or how to stay safe during the summer visit www.redcross.org. 

Pool Safety Week- Staying safe with a pool

Staying safe with a pool

    The best way to assure a safe and fun experience in a residential swimming pool is to add as many water safety steps as possible. Families can build on their current safety practices by adopting water safety steps at home.  By following these safety tips you can make sure your pool is safe for all ages.

    Stay close, be alert, and watch children in and round the pool. Keep an eye on each child the whole time they are in or near the water. Teach them basic water safety tips and to keep away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid them from getting trapped. Have a telephone close by at all times when using the pool. If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool area first.

    Learn and practice water safety skills in your pool. If you are not confident in swimming take lessons and teach your child how to swim as well. Take classes too in CPR and first aid for adults and children and keep them updated. Understand basic lifesaving in the water so that you can assist in a pool emergency. To take classes, contact your American Red Cross at 1800-REDCROSS.

    Install appropriate equipment for your pool. Have a four-foot or taller fence around the pool and use self-closing and self-latching gates, and encourage your neighbors to do the same. Install pool and gate alarms to alert you when children go near the water and consider using a surface wave or underwater alarm.  Check drain covers to make sure they are compliant to the current regulations. Maintain pool covers in good working order.

  Keeping your pool safe keeps your family safe from any water accidents that may occur. For more water safety tips and how to protect your pool from danger visit www.redcross.org.

Pool Safety Week- How Safe is Your Pool?

How Safe is Your Pool?

Pools are great to have in the summer- a place to cool off and relax after a long hot day. It is important that everyone that has a pool to adopt water safety steps to prevent children from accessing the water when there is no adult supervision and are appropriately protected when an adult is available to supervise.

How safe is your pool? By answering these questions about your pool you can check the effectiveness of your water safety in your home. If you cannot answer these questions, determine what steps need to be taken to protect children from drowning injuries:

• Is there a fence around the perimeter of your pool?
• Are there self-closing and self-latching gates?
• Is there a door, gate or pool alarm?
• Does your pool have anti-entrapment drain covers?
• Are all pool covers in working order?
• Has someone in the family received training in CPR, first aid and emergency response?
• Has everyone learned how to swim?

Contact the American Red Cross to find swim classes closest to you at 1800-REDCROSS or by visiting www.redcross.org.