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First Person - Carrie Burr I was at Walmart yesterday morning
in the check- out lane when, from across about 15 check out aisles,
there came a scream unlike any other I had heard before. Department
store babble was replaced instantly with uneasy silence. A voice from
somewhere said, "Call an ambulance." My heart pounded. Then, another
voice, tentative, "Does anyone know CPR?".The woman in front of me spoke.
" I took the class but...I'd be afraid...." her voice trailed off. I
stood there, selectively mute. I, too, had taken a CPR course. I was
scared (would I help or hurt the man...what if he SUED me if I "did
it wrong"?) Almost in a whisper, "I know CPR." ( Who was moving my mouth?
Why did I say that?)
Someone pushed me in the direction of the scream. I ran over and found 3 men, all standing. One's skin was waxen, except for the bluish tinge around his mouth. Injured person now identified. I asked if he needed help. He smiled weakly. "I'm okay", he answered, obviously shaken from what appeared to have been an electrical accident. Another voice said, "an ambulance is on the way." I walked back to the check out lane all rubbery-legs. I checked out, headed for my car.I thought about how I never thought I'd have to "do" what I might have had to "do" just a few minutes ago. I thanked God for whoever it was that got me to speak up. And I prayed that if I ever needed emergency medical attention before the ambulance arrived, somebody else wouldn't be too scared to speak up. (I am very thankful that our foster care agecny includes mandatory CPR and first aid training, and requires re-testing yearly.) |