Imagine this: You’re enjoying a barbecue with your family, the sun shines, laughter fills up the air and then Uncle Joe collapses. The panic sets in. What should you do? This situation is more common than most people think. Knowing Para CPR and First Aid will turn you into a hero.

Let’s start by talking about CPR. CPR stands for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. It sounds fancy, doesn’t it? It’s a combination chest compressions and breathing rescues that are designed to keep the blood flowing when a person’s heart stops. It’s almost like giving the heart a boost.

How do you perform CPR? Imagine that you are trying to awaken someone from their deepest sleep. Place your hands on top of each other, lock your elbows and press hard and fast – about 100-120 compressions a minute. Imagine doing chest press to the Bee Gees’ “Stayin Alive”. The tempo of that song is ideal for CPR.

Next, we will move on to rescue breathing. After 30 compressions tilt the head back to help open up the airway. Cover their mouth and pinch their nose (no air should escape). Give two small breaths to raise their chest.

Let’s switch gears and dive into the basics of first aid. Have you ever cut your finger while cutting vegetables or burned it on a hot pan before? It is important to know basic first aid, just as it is important to know how not set off smoke alarms when cooking.

If you have a cut or a scrape, use water to clean it (avoid hydrogen peroxide as it can cause tissue damage). If it is bleeding heavily, apply pressure with a dry cloth. Think of it as plugging a leaky tap until help arrives.

Another common mistake is burns. Cool water should be applied to minor burns. Do not use ice cold water, we aren’t making popsicles! Afterward, cover the burn with a sterile dressing.

Have you ever seen someone choke? The Heimlich maneuver can be used to help. Standing behind them, place your hands above the navel and below the ribcage. Wrap them around their waist as if you were giving them a hug. Grab your fist and use your other hand to give quick upward thrusts.

Remember the scene where someone faints in a movie? It’s not quite as dramatic in real life, but fainting can happen. This is usually due to dehydration or standing for too long with little movement (hello concert goers!). If you can, lay them flat on their backs and elevate the legs, if necessary.

It may seem overwhelming, but it’s easier than learning TikTok! Regular practice will help you to remember these skills so that when an emergency strikes, you’ll be ready!

It’s much easier to say than do, I know. But taking deep breaths helps slow down racing thoughts allowing clearer decision-making–like finding car keys buried under piles of laundry instead of tearing apart every room frantically searching!

Next time Uncle Joe decides that BBQs won’t be exciting without some drama, you’ll know what to do. You’ll not just stand there helplessly wringing your hands–but confidently step up and save lives one heartbeat a time!

We may not know when or where we will need to use these skills, but being prepared makes us heroes who can make a difference wherever and whenever needed!