I knew something was wrong when I heard the gurgling sound.

It was coming from the baby of my in-home client, and it indicated a blocked airway. The child was gasping for breath! I instructed the mother to do a sweep of the child’s mouth and throat with her finger, to see if she could clear the airway. Luckily, she was able to retrieve a small piece of tape the child had picked up from the floor, and the baby’s breathing returned to normal. If this had not been successful, it would have been necessary to perform a series of back slaps and chest compressions to remove the object. Afterwards, I showed her this technique for use on a choking infant.

Would you know what do if a loved one was choking or went into cardiac arrest? Or would you have to wait helplessly for medical help to arrive? In the length of time it can take for an EMT to arrive on the scene, it may be too late. The first few minutes are critical in saving a life, and many people do not have the skills necessary to perform CPR or aid a choking victim. Are you one of those people?

As a personal trainer, I am required to keep an up-to-date CPR certification. This involves taking a one day class once every two years to learn the latest techniques. My first classes years ago were in Adult CPR, but I came to realize that I needed to know the same skills for use on children and infants. I train in peoples homes, and there are usually children of all ages. Today, I take the BLS for Healthcare Providers certification class, the same one used by nurses and medical personnel. I feel prepared for any situation I may encounter on the job or in my personal life. Surely you can spare one day out of the year to learn how to save a life!

In the many years I have taken CPR classes, I have noticed two things: the techniques have become much more streamlined, and much easier. At one time, it was difficult remembering all the differences between adult, child, and infant. Now it’s all very similar. The giving of breaths has been cut way down or out. The class I took last year had minimal breaths followed by 100 chest compressions. However, researchers in Arizona found that three times as many people survived cardiac arrest when given 200 chest compressions and a defibrillator shock, versus the old cycle of breaths and chest compressions. It’s been found that the most important thing is to keep blood circulating to the heart and brain, and stopping to give breaths wastes precious time. I have a feeling next year’s class will be all compressions-it doesn‘t get much easier!

Why don’t more people take CPR classes? The classes are available from the American Red Cross and American Heart Association, with a variety of days and times to fit in to most anyone’s schedule. They are relatively cheap-I think I paid under $100 for my last BLS class, and those offered for the average person are even lower. That’s a small price to pay when you weigh the benefits of being able to save a life!

One objection I’ve heard over the years from many people is that they’re afraid they would tense up in an emergency situation and forget what to do. Trust me, when the time comes, you’ll know what to do! In the situation I found myself in, my mind raced for about 2 seconds, then I instantly remembered everything I needed to know for a worst case scenario.

Another common objection? Fear of giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, due to disease, flu season, etc. There are mouth shields available for purchase that allow you to give breaths without actually touching the other person’s mouth. With the newer guidelines, this fear should be totally eliminated, as giving breaths may be a thing of the past.

So what’s stopping you? Sign up for a class today! Soon families will be gathering for the holidays, and there will be a mixture of young and old, healthy and not so healthy. Be prepared- I recommend taking a full class that covers CPR for adults, children and infants, as well as the use of an AED (defibrillator). It’s a small investment of your time that is well worth it.

CPR training is one of those things that you hope you never have to use, but if the situation arises, you’ll be ready!