Newsletters > Stories From the Trenches
• Teaching with a 'professional' in the class
• Professional behaviour from EMS
• Where are you?
• Is there such a thing as a "dumb" question?
• When an emergency strikes during your class
• Competing with $25 per student
• Did I do 30, 20 or 40 compressions?
• Teaching with horses
• Infant Choking
• What if they're not real?
• Bags for Dummies
• What to do when your students don't dress properly?
• The wife of a student stated you must ask the family's permission before beginning CPR!
• Real DEAD Person?!
Teaching with a 'professional' in the class
I recently taught professional CPR class. Since this was an 'open' class, there was quite a mixture of students with different backgrounds. One of these students was a Paramedic - who made it known that he really didn't need the course because he was active on the street for a long time.
During the class he kept mumbling additional comments that were not necessarily pertinent to the class. Knowing that his comments were causing a distraction and undermining the instructor - what would you do?
This instructor decided to take the high road and after such a "mumble" mentioned to the class that as a Paramedic with higher training in certain aspects, the individual may want to add information that might be beneficial to the class. The Paramedic seemed to appreciate the limelight and did share some experiences which were in tune with the instructors teaching and later even admitted to the class that some of his comments were "just showing off".
Whew, what could have been a negative situation turned around positive for all.
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Professional behaviour from EMS
As an EMT with 25 years running 911, experience has helped me teach classes with great anecdotal stories. It also helps me explain to students what they should expect when EMS arrives if they are doing CPR.
They're told that in many cases, there may be just two crew members on the ambulance, so if the crew is smart, they will 'use and abuse' you and ask you to continue CPR while they get all their equipment ready.
Imagine my disgust when I was told how when an ambulance arrived, the layperson was unceremoniously pushed to the side - without even a thank you. I explained that a professional crew (and a smart one) may ask for your help and should thank you.
When we hear from one of our students that they actually had to use the skills we taught, we will present them with a CPR save pin. It makes them feel good about what they did and also encourages us to keep on teaching - the life saved may be someone we love.
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Where are you?
I was recently asked to teach a class for housekeeping, maintenance personnel and some CNA's at a large 55+ community. We were scheduled to have 20 students, all for Professional CPR and AED.
We were sent to a 'house' that was used as a community center and found two students already waiting. At 9am, when the class was to start, we had three. adult chair
Shortly thereafter, I received a call from the training center asking where we were! I told them 'at the location where we were directed to be'. They stated the head of Human Resources was told we weren't there and several students were waiting for us.
Next thing we know, we get a visit from HR and she didn't look happy! We explained we had been there well before 9. On top of that, several students were told the class was only 1 - 1.5 hours!
Luckily, due to how we presented ourselves, the HR director realized those students who complained were at the wrong place! And, she made the announcement that the class was not 1-1.5 hours.
It's how you present yourself that can make the difference. In the end, we ended up with 14 students - I'm guessing we'll be called back for those that missed the class.
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Is there such a thing as a "dumb" question?
We heard recently from a training center about a question that raised some eyebrows in the class.....
It was a large class, so holding the attention of everyone was quite a challenge. In addition, the average age was 15. The instructor had gone through the video, discussed the use of an AED and how electricity works within the body. The students then used the AED on the manikins. Now for any questions.
One student asked us to reiterate that, with the 2010 new regulations, AED's could be used on infants. Yes. Then she went on to confirm that if there were no pediatric pads, that adult pads could be used in that situation - again, affirmative. Now the shocker, the next question..."So, do I only use the one adult pad on the infant so that the shock is less?????"
Oops, somewhere the message didn't get through. There were smiles in the audience, but rather than discourage this avid student, it gave the instructor a quick chance to review that section of the training. I'm sure no one in the class will forget the correct use of an AED should they ever need to use it.
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When an emergency strikes during your class
We heard recently from a training center about a surprising twist a CPR training class took.
Three instructors (2 EMT's and 1 Paramedic) were teaching CPR at a nationally known fulfillment company. It was a scorcher of a day, but the classroom was nicely air-conditioned. The class started as scheduled, but shortly before noon, the instructors noticed that numerous members of the class were being called on to go back to their job sites. When the instructors questioned what was happening, it was brought to their attention that many of the employees of the company were suddenly collapsing or becoming ill. The class was put on hold while the instructors investigated further. The temperature in the warehouse had reached 103 degrees and numerous employees were experiencing heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Since all three instructors were licensed emergency responders in Pennsylvania, they joined the first aid forces and local ambulance crews in assisting the employees and getting them the first aid they needed. As a result of their assistance, 30 individuals were taken through triage, 10 of which required hospitalization while others were able to either return to work or go home to recuperate.
Talk about putting what you teach into action. The owner of the training center got a call the next day from the president of the company thanking them for their quick response and help.
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Competing with $25 per student
I had someone call to inquire about a CPR class. They've obviously been calling around trying to get the best price - not necessarily the best course.
They told me the last time they took the class, they were only charged $25. Now, he can't find anything less than $60-$90/student. When I asked why he's not going back to the original instructor, there was a pause...'They're not in business anymore!'
It's hard to compete if someone's only looking for price. It's easy when they want quality instructors, clean and well maintained equipment and classes that start and end on time. The latter is what you should be selling (and charging for)...and that information should be clearly stated on your website, brochures and post cards...
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Not sure if I did 30 compressions, 20 or even 40!
One of my clients (Aimee) recently took one of our Pizza CPR classes. A month later, she was talking to some folks when their mother - who was literally just discharged from the hospital - collapsed. She was in Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
She immediately started CPR. The medics arrived. It was a SAVE!
But, when Aimee called us to tell her story, she was so upset because she wasn't sure if she performed 30-2, 20-2 or even 40-2. As we tell all our students, it's about the pumping & blowing...and something is so much better than nothing.
We learned from the Medic later that she was to receive an award. It's nice to know teaching CPR can save lives!
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Teaching with horses
I was asked to teach a class at a farm. Imagine my surprise when I was taken to a picnic table outside the stables!
The class was taught while horses ran around, cats jumped on the table along with the occasional whiff of the country. Being flexible helps. The students didn't mind and neither did the horses. But then again, they were on their home turf!
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Infant Choking
Not everyone takes care of their equipment -- especially instructors that borrow mannequins and don't treat them as their own.
So, while teaching what to do for a choking infant one of the mom's starts to practice along. Imagine the surprised look of horror when the head of her infant doll goes flying across the room after her very first back blow! We do like to teach to strike hard, but...
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What if they're not real?
Here's a new one. The current protocol states that hand placement for chest compressions should be midline on the chest, between the nipples.
While teaching a class last month, I had a female student ask what to do if the patient was well endowed. I mentioned it's usually not a problem as the breasts will fall to the side. With an embarrassed smile on her face, she stated that a number of her female family members didn't have 'real ones' so they don't fall - anywhere!
I instructed her that if she had to turn her hand slightly, that would be fine. We left it at that!
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Bags for Dummies!
I should have known. Always, ALWAYS check your own equipment. You do it at the beginning of your shift, you should do it before you leave to teach a class. But I was assured everything was there.
Upon arrival for a class of 10, you find out there are actually 25 students! One of the pitfalls when you're the sub-contractor! Then you realize you don't have extra lungs packed. What do you do?
Okay, first you panic...then you wonder can you just get by explaining what a 'chest rise' should look like? Hey, wait, lungs are just bags, right? So I asked for those small, handled plastic shopping bags. Wasn't the prettiest thing, but it worked. And the students thought the ingenuity was great!
Never leave without checking all of your equipment and always make sure you've got extras -- of everything! It won't happen again!
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What to do when your students don't dress properly?
dress properlyFirst, you should provide a 'dress code' as part of your contracts making it clear that students are expected to dress appropriately, considering they will be down on their hands and knees on the floor and physically active.
I'm sure at one time or another, we've all been there. You have a student leaning over, practicing CPR, with low cut clothes. They end up revealing their undergarments.
The best course of action would be to have a same-sex instructor quietly address the situation with the student. Just do everything you can not to embarrass them. Or, if the class has someone that is in charge, ask them to take care of it. If not, you should professionally talk to the student yourself. Chances are they are not aware of the situation. On the other hand, if nothing is done about it, you could be accused of harassment. Think about it, while the students are on the floor, you're walking around checking position, hand placement, are the elbows straight or bent, etc. You don't want someone saying you were observing something else.
Protect yourself. Act professional at all times. Watch your innuendos as you teach. Remember, there are other students watching your behavior and can act as your witness if something does come up.
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During a class, the wife of a student stated she was a CPR instructor and then proceeded to tell the class that before you begin CPR, you must ask the family's permission and that they have the right to refuse on behalf of that individual!
Okay, now what do you do? You know that information is incorrect, but you certainly don't want to embarrass anyone in the class by saying - no, you're wrong! So rather than saying you're wrong, turn it into a positive. How about something like - "Wow, you are way ahead of me, but that's a wonderful introduction to some of the legal ramifications involved in CPR and choking." Then you can go into the details of asking permission of someone who is alert and oriented versus "implied consent". You may also want to touch on living wills, etc. at this point.
The hint is to never make a student feel embarrassed about providing wrong information - take the opportunity to make it into something positive. But definitely re-iterate the correct information.
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Real DEAD Person?!
dead people storyHaving been an EMT for over 20 years, I've had my share of classes and students and tough questions along the way. But never before has this question come up!
Part of my teaching philosophy is to provide students with some street experience. Not to gross them out or to show off, but to help them realize that anyone can do CPR, even if you're not involved with EMS. Heck, my first cardiac arrest was 30 years ago -- and back then we did mouth-to-mouth. So, over the years, I've told students that if they can perform CPR on the hard plastic mannequins, they can surely do it on a "Real, dead person"!
And that's when it happened...an older student raised her hand and asked, "Why would you do CPR on a dead person?"
Everyone in the class thought she was joking, so we laughed it off. Later in the course she asked the same question. The look on my face must have matched the other students when we all realized she was serious! Further explanation wasn't as easy as you would think...she just didn't get the fact that people in cardiac arrest are considered, well, dead!
So, do I still say the same thing today? Yes. Why? Because it does help the students to understand that doing CPR is not as tough as they thought it might be...and that real dead people can become real live people.
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