Kim D. Vicenga
Assis. Director of Nursing, RN
Student of CPR Rescuers

Mary came rushing into my office, hardly speaking “Adam, I am choking”. I looked at her and said “well if you are talking, you are not really choking”. Although she was barely speaking, I knew something was wrong and stood up to look at her more closely. A few seconds later the item in her throat became completely lodged and she began to panic. I asked her if she wanted me to do the Heimlich maneuver on her, and with her approval, I gave her one thrust and the obstruction came out. After calming her, I told her in the future if something like this happens again, to seek help from anyone, and not to run into an area where someone may or may not be there.

Just because I am current according to my card, doesn't mean that I am fresh in my skills. Because of my informative and fun filled class taught with CPR Rescuers, these skills were called into action just one week later to save a life.

On a personal note, the Instructor of CPR Rescuers that retrained me found out about this incident and came to my place of business to show appreciation. He presented me with a Certificate of Appreciation for my actions. This type of sincere appreciation for saving a life goes well beyond simple business. This shows a genuine appreciation for life, and a dedication to those who he trains. Mr. Ray Smith, I thank you and I am sure that Mary thanks you as well. Please continue to touch people's lives. I hope with my training, I will continue your work to touch others the way you do.

Adam Such
Emergency Medical Technician
Student of CPR Rescuers

Dear Ray & Betsy,

Thank you for the expert and enjoyable way you conduct your CPR classes. I have taken lots of other classes before but non are as enjoyable as yours. I am convinced that the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of your class helps me to remember material. In fact, I have proof!

A week and a half ago, I went to see my first client of the day for a physical therapy home visit. She was a 75 year old lady who was two weeks post op double coronary bypass. Her home health nurse was concerned about her sternal incision for its slow healing and was just leaving the house having done a dressing change when I arrived.

The patient and I talked for a bit while she was resting in bed. She stated that she felt good that morning and that this was going to be a good day. We then started some gentle leg mobility exercises when the sternal incision started bleeding through the new dressing. I found a dressing pad to place over the dressing, but by then the pulse had reduced to a faint flutter. The husband was already on the phone to try to get the nurse that had done the dressing. I told him to hang up the phone and call 911 and I started CPR.

My first thought was, “I wonder if I am going to remember the correct procedure?” I didn’t have to wonder long because it very quickly became automatic. By the time I had finished one round of compressions and breaths, I was on “automatic pilot.” I wasn’t sure next if the paramedics arrived in a few minutes or a couple of hours; it didn’t matter, time didn’t have much relevance at that point.

There is no fear in me any more that I won’t remember the correct procedure because I know now that once the information is placed in the brain, “automatic pilot” takes over and gets me through the dramatics of the moment. It was only when the paramedics arrived and relieved me of my duty that I understood that one-person CPR is an awful lot of hard work! Up until then, it was just “automatic pilot.”

Thanks again for putting the information in my brain.

Sincerely,
Davis