Celebrate CPR!

You know, it really can be true that the best things in life are simple.  Especially when it comes to CPR.  In line with this, about five years ago the American Heart Association (AHA) began teaching Hands-Only CPR.

CPR is really great stuff!  Simple Hands-Only CPR came along because AHA realized that folks get trained to do CPR but quickly lose the confidence needed to use it.  People forget the ratio of breaths to compressions and worry that getting the sequence correct really matters.  Thankfully, research has shown that the ratios aren’t that important.  In fact, just doing the compressions can make a difference.   Viola!  Hands-Only CPR!

So, it’s National CPR Week!   Join me in celebrating!  Try Hands-Only CPR.

Just remember that according to the American Heart Association:

• 383,000 people experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year.
• Cardiac arrest means the heart’s electrical activity has stopped or is abnormal and blood flow in the body and brain has stopped.
• Cardiac arrest is caused by a variety of problems or injuries.  It can happen in people who appear to be healthy just before it occurs.
• Effective bystander CPR provided immediately can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival.

AHA says:  Don’t be afraid; your actions can only help.  If you see an unresponsive adult who is not breathing or not breathing normally, call 911 and push hard and fast on the center of the chest. Lean over the victim with your elbows/arms straight.

Check out these great videos to learn more, practice the skill or find a class!  Thank you AHA!

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My May

Each of these topics provokes deep thoughts, especially my birthday lately.  My son is starting to make fun of my age!  I think that’s more about his age (9) than mine.  At least that’s what I think.

Besides not thinking about my age, you know I always think about food allergies, celiac disease and everything gluten free.  That’s my year-round, full-time job, and I love it!  In May I get a little more reflective, and recently shared some thoughts on video about Food Allergy Awareness and Celiac Awareness.  My deep thoughts these days.

As always, I’m eager to know what you’re thinking, so please stay in touch.  And, try these links to great information if you’re celebrating food allergy or celiac awareness.

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Friendly Bugs

Moises Velasquez-Manoff has written a book on this topic, “An Epidemic of Absence:  A New Way of Understanding Allergies and Autoimmune Disease”.  And, this past Sunday the New York Times

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