Would you stop to give CPR?

[Lynda/WA]

Recently the Seattle police chief left his office to go jogging. He came upon a woman that was turning blue. She had track marks up her arm. He gave her CPR and revived her. He spent a longer time in the hospital being tested for various communicatible diseases then she spent in the hospital.

If you didn't have a shield, would you give CPR to someone that looked like a drug addict. Someone at higher risk of having a deadly disease that you could get by helping them?

[Mickey]

I hate to say it, but in all honesty, sitting here at my computer contemplating it, I'm thinking probably not. Not for the fear of my life, but the fact that I would be risking contracting something and possibly leaving ds without a mother or passing it on to him. That said, neat, clean-looking people can also have diseases. Tough one. Think it would probably be one of those spur-of-the-moment decisions and I would probably end up going for it regardless because I don't think I could stand there and watch someone die knowing I could prevent it.

Think I'll go get re-certified for CPR and put shields in my purse.

[Jeff]

My cerebral side says no!

If I came upon a scene where it was happening who knows.

[Karen]

How timely. I just took the CPR class at the YMCA last week. They had shields for us to try, so we would get the feel of breathing through them. They are so small, I was thinking about getting a package and carrying it with me in the car. My dh will think I am nuts, but even though I'll probably never encounter a situation, I like to be prepared.

Otherwise, it's a tough call. I'd like to say I wouldn't hesitate, especially since, as Mickey said, "clean" people can have communicable diseases. In total honesty, I'm afraid I'd hesitate if it was a "dirty" looking person, unless I had the shield.

[RCT]

part of me says no defiently not, but then again, like someone else said, who knows, I don't think I would truely know unless I came across that situation? what a sad statment, that I can't be firm on what I would do, but I think it all has to do with the "here you are" senerio...?(

[Lynda/WA]

I think you all are much more honest then the callers on the radio! I'd like to think I would help but when it comes down to it my family comes first. If it was just me or even only DH and I, I'd probably help without a sheild. Probably not with kids relying on me though.

Many of the callers said they would. Citing statements like that's someone elses parent/child and a human being ect. A caller brought up a good point though. We've all heard of cases where someone was being attacked and no-one helped. Some of the times no-one even called 911 from the safety of their homes. I've heard that Chandra's neighbors have avoided speaking with the police. (May be a rumour). If that's true they're hardly helping someone else's daughter.

[Tracy]

A few years ago I witnessed an accident while living in Killeen, Tx. A drunk driver speeding down the freeway crossed over the median into oncoming traffic. His victims were two adults and two children, a 5 year old and a 2 year old. Nobody really stopped to help. I called the police and a few of my co-workers who were cpr certified ran to the scene to give cpr. They did their best to help everyone involved. They managed to save three lives. The drunk driver died on impact and the 5 year old died while being evacuated by helicopter.
If I had to perform cpr to save someones life I think that I would take the risk. We were put on this earth to help each other and I believe that we are blessed each time we help another who is in need of our help.

Tracy

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