Category Archives: CPR

Posted in CPR • Special CPR Conditions • RoyOnRescue Personal Responses • RoyOnRescue Updates

When CPR Doesn’t Work! Explained by Roy Shaw, Paramedic

Comments:

Coping with the loss of a loved one or even a stranger can be extremely difficult. But more difficult than grieving, is feeling guilty that the person died because of something that may or may not have been done or done correctly.

In this video, I explain in detail what CPR is, and what it’s not and why a person should not ever feel guilty that they didn’t do enough to keep a victim of cardiac arrest alive. I hope that this video brings peace and understanding to why a rescuer should never feel that they are at fault when a person doesn’t survive cardiac arrest, though the bystander attempted CPR or wanted to give CPR. I hope it helps.

Posted in CPR • CPR for Providers

Personal Email Regarding The Subject of When CPR Doesn’t Work

Comments:

I received an email that asked several questions regarding events leading up to a cardiac arrest and then how to manage feelings of failure after CPR is given but the person still remains dead.  I hope this helps.

Posted in CPR • CPR for Providers • RoyOnRescue Personal Responses

How To Process Feelings Of Guilt When CPR Doesn’t Work

Comments:1 Comment

I received an email from a person who provided CPR to their father but unfortunately, their father did not respond to the CPR and remained dead.  The child who provided CPR to them is now dealing with incredible feelings of failure and guilt.  They feel as though they failed their father.  They feel as though they did not help enough.  They are sad, but they also feel responsible that their loved one is gone.

I knew I had to respond to this as soon as possible so I recorded a direct message to them in hopes that it can help them understand that they did everything right and what’s more…they showed a wonderful act of love to their father.  I hope this helps them but I also hope it helps others who are suffering from the same or similar feelings.  Peace Be With You.

Posted in CPR • Roy on Rescue • RoyOnRescue Personal Responses • RoyOnRescue Updates

Roy Shaw TV Interview With “Ask The Expert”.

Comments:

A while back I had the honor of being asked to be on the health care panel for a local television show called,  “Ask The…”.   In this episode, Shelly Irwin had wanted several representatives from different types of medical response agencies.  The Hospital ER, the Ambulance on the street and a paramedic in education.  It was a lot of fun and though it’s a bit long and my mike is turned up a little high, I thought some of you might like to here what the different types of medical responders do and how they look at things from their world.   I loved being a street paramedic but I really love being able to host RoyOnRescue and create life saving video trainings that are watched all around the world.

Hope you enjoy it.

Oh yeah, did I say it’s 26 minutes long?   Might want to refresh that beverage of choice before you begin! : )

Posted in CPR • Pets and Animals • Roy on Rescue

Cruel World Getting You Down? Watch This Video For A Lift!

Comments:2 Comments

A great video of a firefighter who found a casualty from a house fire.  It’s bad enough tokitten loose things in a house fire but when a family loses it’s pet, it can be like losing a family member.  This brave firefighter took the time to use his life saving passion and skills to save this little kitten.  Need a pick me up in a cruel world?  Watch this video.

Keep on rescuing!

Posted in CPR • Cardiac • CPR for Providers • Roy on Rescue

Guess What Movie Star Put Their CPR Skills To Use!

Tens of thousands of people are trained in life saving CPR every year. But sometimes it’s easy to forget that CPR is not just for health care providers and in the case of an emergency, you never know just who might be happening by. In this case, it was famous actor, Dustin Hoffman! You may know him from some of his better known movies such as Rain Man, Tootsie, Hook and of recent, Kung Fu Panda. I included the video that interviewed to two medics who interacted with Mr. Hoffman on scene and they tell the story. Thought you might find it interesting.

Posted in CPR • CPR for Instructors • CPR for Providers • RoyOnRescue Personal Responses

I Administered CPR To My Neighbor, But It Didn’t Work!

Comments:3 Comments

I received an email from a true rescuer who attempted to revive their neighbor by administering CPR.  The neighbor did not survive lighthouse-1418634-sand now the rescuer is feeling as though the may not have done enough to help.  This is a very normal feeling for many rescuers.  I’d like to share my thoughts and I hope it helps bring closure, confidence and peace.

Much Peace,

THE FOLLOWING IS MY RESPONSE:

Hello Lynn,

It sounds like you’ve had a rough couple of days.  First, because a neighbor and potentially their friends and family members are experiencing a living nightmare right now and secondly, because you may be feeling like you did not do enough, or do it well enough.

These feelings are very normal and not because you did anything wrong.  It’s just normal to feel sad that the situation did not turn out the way we would have wanted it to.  The fact that you did any CPR at all means that you gave this gentleman a chance at survival.  Please remember, CPR is not designed to save lives directly.  It’s purpose is to slow the process of moving from clinical death to biological death down a little in order to possibly intervene with advanced life support and buy more time to get the person to the hospital. CPR can sometimes help the body respond to the medications and electrical therapy but it does not take away the reason the person went into cardiac arrest in the first place in most cases.  There can be so many reasons why a patient goes into cardiac arrest and why the seemingly don’t respond.  It’s important to remember that your neighbor was already clinically dead when you arrived by their side.  You gave them and their family members a wonderful gift.  You moved out of your comfort zone and gave this person a second chance at survival.  Something they wouldn’t have had if you wouldn’t have tried.  The fact that your neighbor did not survive cardiac arrest does not take anything away from your efforts and your compassion.

You acted bravely and selflessly.  That is not the norm in our culture.  You are the exception and I say well done!  Please, be at peace knowing that the most experienced and effective rescuers don’t always achieve the outcome that others wish would happen.  True rescuers try their best to make a possibility for a tomorrow, regardless of the outcome and make the world a more loving place and show the world compassion by doing so.

Be at peace knowing that you did a wonderful act of love and compassion.

Most sincerely,

-Roy

Posted in Airway • Choking

Can I Do The Heimlich On A Person Who Just Had Back Surgery?

Comments:2 Comments

Heimlich procedure and if it’s okay to do it on a person who may have recently had a surgery on their back.  The quick answer is YES! If you think about it, what’s more dangerous, the Heimlich on a sore back or letting the person die from a blocked airway?  I wanted to take a couple minutes and answer this question directly and I hope it helps.

Posted in CPR • CPR for Providers • Special CPR Conditions • RoyOnRescue Personal Responses

A Response To A Rescuer Who’s Attempts To Revive Her Father Were Unsuccessful

Comments:6 Comments

Dear Rescue Fans,

I received yet another loving email from a person who’s father died in the front of their automobile while they were driving them to the hospital. Due to things outside her control, she was unable to move her dad to the ground so she improvised and did CPR while he was reclined in tlost loved onehe car the best she could. She has struggled for some time with this and found some relief from my episode on “Did I Do CPR Wrong?”.
I just replied back to her and I have to believe there may be others who have tried to save a life with CPR and felt it was not successful. So I’m going to include my reply to her in this blog entry and for those of you who are suffering, I hope it helps.

This person said in her last paragraph of her email: “I have struggled with this in so many ways, yet feel comfort in being with him when he left. I have struggled to find any material that related to my experience. I have felt isolated in not being able to share how I lost my dad, This story, the words you have written, have helped me process and understand my own experience. Thank you.”

This was my response:
Dear __________,

I’m so very sorry for the loss of your Father. I’m sure this must have been most traumatic for both you and your mother. I want to re-ensure you that what you did for your dad that day, was the most brave and loving gift you could have given both your dad and your mum. Every thing you did sounds perfect in order to give your dad the best chance of survival possible under the circumstances. The fact that he did not survive the event does not have anything to do with your efforts. Remember, CPR is only a time buyer in case the person is going to respond to medications and advanced medicine. It’s not a guarantee. The fact that you had the courage to try and the compassion to help is amazing. Please let your mother know that her reaction to the situation is also very normal. She lost the love of her life. Her soul mate and her husband. It’s a nightmare that is happening for real, right before her eyes and it’s not wrong for her to be so overwhelmed with grief and fear that she could not help. That’s why paramedics are not called to their own homes for emergencies. It’s too emotional. So please, let your mother know that she is not at fault for her reactions either.

I hope and pray that you will receive peace during this time of healing. But please know that everyone has a day to die and it’s never easy to experience it. CPR just keeps the window of opportunity to survive open a little longer. You gave that to your dad. As a father myself, I can only imagine how I’d feel to know that my daughter loved me so much that she would give me CPR while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. What love.

Be at Peace,

-Roy
P.S. I’ve included the video that explains this message in detail. I recorded it so long ago, it’s hard to find so I’m going to bring it back to the top. Share it with anyone you may know who may benefit from it.

Posted in Roy on Rescue • CPR for Instructors • CPR for Providers • Pregnancy Emergencies

What If The Person Is Choking and Is Pregnant?

Comments:1 Comment

Hi Rescue Fans!

Got a good question via email today regarding the choking adult scenario.  This rescuer asked if we could explain the following:  “Please talk about how to give a pregnant woman chest compressions if she was choking. How would we hold her? With an infant we make sure the head is below the body. But what to do for a pregnant woman who is choking? -H____pregnantchokingfemale

I thought this was a good question and one that we cover in our CPR certification course.  Feel free to view it below.  At about 44 seconds into the training, I talk about what to do if the person has a distended abdomen that’s too large to reach around, or they are a pregnant person.  I hope this helps!