Basic Life Support
After a week straight of call, I was looking forward to putting my phone on Do Not Disturb for 2 days. Two days of recharging and self care. This weekend was a bit different though. Today was time to refresh and renew my basic life support training. CPR, mouth to mouth on torso mannequins and…
After a week straight of call, I was looking forward to putting my phone on Do Not Disturb for 2 days. Two days of recharging and self care. This weekend was a bit different though. Today was time to refresh and renew my basic life support training. CPR, mouth to mouth on torso mannequins and back slapping choking infant mannequins.
I remember the first time I did this training. I was a fresh third year medical student just itching to start my clinical rotations. We stood in the classroom in front of our pale torso mannequins. The instructions were to push hard and fast at just the right point on chest. If you’re doing it properly the chest makes a click noise and a light on the shoulder shines to tell you that you’re rate is right. Position, depth and rate are all important. I placed my hands on the chest, ready to save this plastic doll. I push and I pushed again. No sound. I pushed harder until I heard the click and felt sharp pain through my belly.
Just a week prior I was the one on the table. I spent my week between the biggest board exam of my life and starting third year having and recovering from surgery. It was a 7 hour robotic myomectomy. Overall I felt okay and up to returning to school so quickly. But giving CPR is really physical and I was not ready. I tried my best to get the click and keep the light on but it was tough. I wanted to start taking care of patients just like I had been taking care of.
Today I was able to perform all of my exercises without pain or soreness. I know I had a silly grin on my face the whole class. It’s difficult to think about where I started and what I’ve lived through and not smile. My providers used their BLS, ACLS, MD, DO, FACOG, FASA, other acronyms and training to keep me here on earth. I’ve been given a second chance at life and I’m paying it forward. While I hope not to need to use these skills any time soon, I’m proud to have the knowledge to help someone through a scary time.
Infertile Obgyn