Part of keeping my personal training and weight loss management certifications up to date includes keeping a current CPR certification; and today was the day I took care of that for two more years! Thanks to the fine folks over at CrossFit for letting this independent trainer join their Heartsaver (American Heart Association) CPR, AED, and First Aid class today.
I took my first CPR class when I was a student at Virginia Tech. It was one of my health education requirements and we spent an entire quarter learning both American Red Cross and American Heart Association adult, child, infant, single-person and two-person CPR and first aid. There were a bunch of guys from the Virginia Tech football team in my class, and I remember one of them was my partner for the two-person CPR. He was a huge, strong guy and the professor told him that he was going to kill Annie with his deep compressions! Back then there was a different count/ratio for each type of patient, and you were tested both practically and with a written test at the end of each type of certification. Today there are no written tests, and the instructor simply watched us to make sure we had a good grasp on what we were doing.
The early day “Resusci-Annie” had arms and legs and had a really bad blonde haircut. She was dressed in an ugly navy and red “jogging suit” and wore white sneakers. Come to think of it, I had a very similar look!
Resusci Annie
Today’s CPR Dummy is legless and armless
I encourage you to take a CPR class if you’re not already certified, or to take a refresher class if your certification has expired (or is close to expiring). Who knows, it could make a difference in the life of someone you love.
CPR Dummies with Mouth Pieces Awaiting Class to Begin
Look what came in the mail yesterday! I have been reading a lot about compression socks lately (Bill already had a pair that I got for him a couple of years ago). Last weekend I borrowed his socks after my 15-mile run and decided that I had to have a pair of my own! They came yesterday, on a Saturday, after my long run. Coincidence? I don’t think so! 🙂
Look what the mailman delivered!
Happy legs and feet!
- Questions:
- Are you CPR certified?
- When did you take your first CPR class?
- Have you ever worn compressions socks post-run?
Thanks for the CPR public announcement. I have not been certified since I worked as a “nurse” at a summer camp in 2003 (I coddled teenagers who needed a day inside or took them to a real doctor). It probably expired in 2005. Whoops! I agree that it is a good thing to do and it is always fun to take a refresher class and think about things like that.
It good that I’m required to keep a current CPR certification or I would probably think that I’d just taken care of it a year or so ago, when in reality it would have been six years!
I got CPR certified on the internet so that I could coach GOTR last Fall, but I know it doesn’t hold a candle to the real thing. Hopefully in the Fall I will be able to go to a class that GOTR offers and get more of a hands-on training.
FYI – I’m jealous of your Compression Socks ~ but happy for you that you have them!
Awesome that you coach GOTR! I just read Cori’s post about their fabulous program. I was a buddy runner once, but I haven’t coached for them.
The buddy runners are so important. The girls asked about their running buddies for weeks leading up to the 5K.
I love the compression socks! They even match your shoes!
I took my first CPR course when I was 15, as part of getting my lifeguard certification. I maintained it through college, as I worked as both a lifeguard and swim coach in the summers. It has expired now, but I still remember my ABC’s and the different approaches for an infant vs child vs adult. Its a good thing to have, though, and if nothing else I will definitely attend another training before we start having kids.
I have compression socks and I mainly wear them post-run for recovery. Last spring I had a lit of shin issues, so I wore compression sleeves which helped. Now I only wear the socks while running as an extra layer under my tights if its really cold out.
I used to be certified, but no longer!! I think my company offers classes, so I’ll probably sign up the next time they do.
I wear compression sleeves after long and/or hilly runs and I’ve noticed a huge difference in soreness! I just ordered my first pair of Pro Compression socks, too!!! I’m hoping to get them sometime this week.
I still am not sold on wearing them during my runs because I haven’t had a lot of great experience with that the first two times I’ve tried, but I think I’m going to give the Pro Compression brand a try before I give up.
So far I’ve only worn my compression socks post-run, but I do love how they make my legs and feet feel! 🙂
Debbie – I got my compression socks too – both pink and purple since I could not decide. They are coming with me to Paris :).
You can wear one of each color! 🙂