Safety Certifications– In Real Life

Rob Herrick was surprised when his CPR training kicked in on May 14. He had just finished the PurpleStride 5K, which benefits the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and was headed to watch Rick Worrel finish up. As he was cheering him on, he noticed Rick collapse.

“You go through the class and learn the nuances, but always wonder if you’ll be able to do it…if you’ll step up to the plate and follow the protocols,” said Herrick. Prior to that day, he had participated in CPR training once at Affinis and was a part of his past employer’s response team for a number of years.

He and an off-duty EMT ran to Rick’s side. They called 9-1-1, flipped him over, and began performing compression-only CPR for over 7 minutes, as they waited for on-site EMT’s to respond. They traded off compressions, working together.

When the EMT’s arrived, they used an AED and CPR to resuscitate Rick. He was shocked several times, and after the third, they were finally able to find a heartbeat. At this point, he’d been without one for 15 minutes.

Today, Rick has no broken ribs and a prognosis that he’ll have a full-recovery. He is back at work and just a few days away from “graduating” cardiac rehab. This wouldn’t be possible had bystanders not performed CPR.

According to the Citizen CPR Foundation, laypersons starting CPR before responders arrive can double to quadruple the chances of survival. The rate of survival from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is 7 percent. In fact, 1,600 people die from SCA every day in the United States.

When we posted our Safety Certifications blog on May 4th, there was no way to know what was coming – which highlights the value of getting trained in first aid and CPR. You never know when or where help might be needed both on and off the job site.

Affinis has offered CPR training to co-workers for over four years, but if your office doesn’t provide a course, you can find one in your area here.

If you haven’t been trained and see someone collapse, you can still help. Dial 9-1-1. Operators will talk you through the steps. Also, Good Samaritan laws in both Kansas and Missouri protect those who are willing to step-up in the moment from the possibility of lawsuits.