Saving Lives, One Dummy at a Time

Once upon a time, I was a Brownie. Then I was a Girl Scout. Then I was a high school student. Then I was just an interested, caring person. At each of these stages of life, I learned how to give CPR and how to do the Heimlech Maneuver.

In each case, a dozen people would gather 'round as Rescusi-Anne was unfolded from her carrying case and laid out on a table. Her mouth was swabbed with germ-killing rubbing alcohol , and an instructor would demonstrate how to blow in the mouth after tilting the head back, and how to find the sternum and position your palm correctly for chest compressions.

It was very serious stuff. And Anne looked a little scary, frankly. Eyes closed, mouth agape with perfect white, chicklet teeth and lump of tongue. The Annes I remember had actual yellow hair coming out of their heads - I suppose for a more life-like feel. I'm sure they were hard to keep clean though, so eventually she got a plastic do.

Even creepier though, were the babies. Same blank expression, but scaled down. No teeth. And you had to be so gentle with the compressions - you were always scared of breaking them.

Nowadays, rescusitation dummies come in all shapes and sizes.

Witness "Fat Old Fred"...

It's been years since I took a CPR refresher course. I've never had to use CPR on anyone (though I've used the Heimlech Maneuver several times), but now they have come out with new guidelines. Perhaps it's time I faced down Rescusi-Anne again...