First Responders Not Trained in CPR? You Should Be!
A rally was held in Brooklyn yesterday announcing the filing of a lawsuit against the City of New York and the New York City Police Department in the death of an 11-year old girl. The family of the girl, Briana Ojeda, is seeking $17 million in damages for the death of their daughter after a police officer failed to perform CPR on Briana after she suffered an asthma attack. The suit alleges that the police officer told the family he did not know how to perform CPR. Apparently, police officers are retrained in CPR only every two years, although such skills need to continually refreshed. My sincerest condolences go to Briana's family on their loss.
Although the purpose of this lawsuit may be debated, this terrible tragedy presents many valuable lessons. I agree that CPR re-fresher courses should be required annually for first-responders, as opposed to the every two years that the NYPD currently requires. What I also advocate is that every parent should receive instruction in basic first aid and CPR. The course lasts only 1 - 2 hours and is literally a life saver. The New York City Fire Department offers free courses in CPR to groups of 6 - 20 people. The classes can be held in a school gym, a conference room or any other open room large enough to accommodate the participants and the instructors.
Basic first aid courses are taught at various community centers, such as the Staten Island YMCA and JCC's, and applications can be even downloaded to your iPhone or Android-phone that provide step-by-step instruction on what to do when faced with a medical emergency. Some of the applications are free while others cost just a few dollars and provide simple instructions, although they are not a replacement for a proper first aid course. Knowledge of first aid and CPR are extremely important to everyone, especially those who take care of young children and infants. There really is no excuse to becoming first aid or CPR certified. Get certified today - you just may save a life.
