So, I just read and responded to a man named Rockie on the Bass Forum, about how he saved a woman's life. I read another on how someone saved a family whose boat was sinking.
So I got to thinking. How many of you know CPR? Or what to do if you were by yourself, or with someone or saw someone bitten by a snake? Or got a barbed hook stuck in your skin?
I love to fish and be on a kayak and fish either by myself or with friends.
But, as a teacher, every other year, we, as coaches/teachers, get certified in CPR for two years.
I noticed in some of the responses in those threads people were saying way to go, and thank God and new you were a good guy. I wondered, how many people were inspired to get CPR training and other first aid training to make a difference.
I guess what I am trying to say is, thank you to everyone who has taught me something on this and other threads, and I hope that others have been inspired to get CPR and First Aid Training so that we can all Pay It Forward, and possibly save a life.
I hope you understand what I mean.

I have had CPR training but it was around 10 years ago. But I remember it very well. It's a good thing to know and I hope I'll never have to use it!

CPR has changed a great deal in 10 years. I certainly need to go take the course again myself.

I am CPR trained, first responder trained can use the defib if need be, can stitch up a deep cut. I try to go back and get trained every two years as well, never know when it will be needed. I also keep up on my swimming skills, You never know when you will need to giveyour life jacket to a distressed person in the water and have to swimm to pull them to shore.

Great post Mike, gives everyone something to think about.

I have been thinking about taking a CPR class. Anyone have any details?

Contact your local FD. They can usually inform you of a CPR/life saving class going on.

When I lived in TN I maintained CPR and first aid cert's. I'm sorry to say I haven't had the refresher training since I moved to TX 12 years ago. I need to check into local providers.

Thanks to the OP for bringing this up.

LPF, it is amazing how Much we can forget. But then again, it is amazing how much we can retain and remember. You know more right now about CPR than most people.
Does anyone know how to deal with a hook that penetrates skin past the barb? It is a strange feeling having a stranger call me over to him at the bayview marina boat ramp and ask me to come over to him and do him a favor. To get a hook out that has penetrated his calf skin and came, not past the barb. I couldn't do it. His father in law came over and showed us how to do it.
What about a copperhead or water mocassin snake bite?

Good stuff to know, and even if you forget some of it after your training has ended, you'll still remember more than most will ever know...and have the confidence to save someone a lot of grief, or possibly their life.

Hooks removal skills are very handy. Have had the opportunity to use them twice, once on Texoma with a front Pencil Popper treble past the barb in a buddy's thumb (and a 2 pound striper on the rear treble) and the other time on a tuna boat when a friend pulled an 8/0 heavy wire hook past the barb into the meat of his palm. We popped it out and he was back to fishing after some antibiotic and a bandage.

Emergency First Responder training or just CPR training alone can save someone you love. Just do it.

Thanks for posting this, mkdm.

FM

I know how to remove hooks and have done it on multiple occasions, I have not had a recent first aid or CPR certification and it would never hurt to refresh those skill and see what has changed.

Like I said ... its been a long time since I had the training and when I did it was in another state.

I know I can (and will) do a little research on this, but I know back in the day when I lived in TN the Red Cross was willing (and at no cost at that time) to come out to provide training to various groups (They charged businesses like ours to do on-site training, but we had to have it for certain (for profit) projects).

Just wondering ... if there was enough interest, in possibly getting a group together for training if the cost was found to be reasonable. Perhaps we could even see if we could get a local vendor to provide space for something like this.

That sounds like a great idea. It would be nice to know that the Yakkers that I start to hang out with can save me or your loved one, or even a bystander.
BTW , what to do when bitten by a water moccasin ?

We have mandatory CPR/AED training at my office.
The training was done by a local Boy Scout leader who is certified.
Might ask your local boy scout troop if they have someone who would be willing to do the training.

It is an valuable skill - hope to never need it but am prepared if I do.

First responder trained and as far as a hook past the barb, there are two ways to do that. I was on the Devils one time and was fishing a Rogue and caught a 2# Smallie on it. As I went to grab him he shook the treble in my hand and started flopping. There is no where to go out there. I had a buddy push it through with pliers (it was very deep and did not leave much room to push through). He finally drove it through and smashed the barb in and pulled it out. I now have a permanent loss of feeling there. The best way is to back the hook out, eveyone should look it up on you tube. Carry duct tape with you it is useful for many situations.

I had a hook stuck in my leg a couple of weeks ago past the barb. Check out my post http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/7337682/Re_Leason_Learned#Post7337682

I used the jerk and pull method, that Chad Hoover demostrated on his video.

Mike