[il-talk] First aid and CPR

[Andrew Webb]

Thanks Leslie.  I'm glad you recently got certified as well.  These are
excellent points you make about the use of the AED.  I agree, the device is
overall remarkably simple, and outside of the application of the pads, it is
something that we as blidn people should be able to use properly.  And yes,
philosophically I would have no problem in aksing a sighted bystander to
take charge of lining up the pads, especially since there's apparently a
simple diagram on the device indicating how to do it.  And I certainly
wouldn't be too proud to ask given the gravity of that situation!  I guess
it's just the natural cynic in me that hesitates to entrust an anonymous
stranger (if in fact that's who you're dealing with), in the stress of the
moment, to perform such a critical function.  Even if it's a simple process,
you can never be sure if some random joe blow might have a complete brain
freeze under such pressure; in a perfect world, I'd prefer to be able to
apply the pads myself.  That said, it appears that there's just no getting
around the need for sighted assistance here, and perhaps I just need to
relax and have a little faith on this point which is beyond my control.

Best regards to everyone.

Andrew

-----Original Message-----
From: il-talk [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Leslie Hamric
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 11:48 PM
To: 'NFB of Illinois Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [il-talk] First aid and CPR

Hi Andrew.  Yeah, I recently took a CPR certification class and worked with
the AED.  It is accessible once the pads are lined up because the machine
talks you through everything. I have a few thoughts about the ability to
make lining up the pads accessible to the blind.  First, someone sighted
would most likely get you the AED so you could simply ask that person to
line the pads up as shown in the picture.  Once that's done, you can do the
rest.  Second, in my opinion, the main goal is to respond as quickly as
possible to save someone's life and if that means using a bit of sighted
assistance to line the pads up and tell you the layout of the machine, ,
then so be it.  Since all AED's are different, it might not be practical to
make them accessible.  I do believe it would be worth looking into, however,
as someone may come with a way I've never even thought of. In the meantime,
I'm just trying to look at the situation realistically here.  Just my two
cents worth.
Leslie

-----Original Message-----
From: il-talk [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Webb
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 5:06 PM
To: 'NFB of Illinois Mailing List'
Subject: [il-talk] First aid and CPR

Hi all,

 

I mentioned earlier in the week that I'd be attending a CPR certification
class.  I did so, and it was a good experience.  This won't come as news to
many of you, but it was good to get the reassurance that CPR can be
performed just as capably by first responders who are blind as it can by
anyone else.  However, this class also provided my first hands-on
introduction to the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).  This
device seems invaluable, and yet from my experience also seems quite
inaccessible to the blind, i.e., vision seems necessary to properly place
the pads on the victim, and I found no apparent workaround.  I haven't found
any resources online that indicate to the contrary. Does anyone have any
insights or knowledge on this?  It would seem to be a wonderful thing if
blind people could themselves operate AEDs, which when properly utilized can
boost chances of survival dramatically.

 

Regards,

Andrew

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