You Might Save A Life

From NAFI's Chair

You Might Save A Life

I had a biennial last week. No, not a flight review. Rather, I needed to complete my recertification in CPR and first aid, something that is required by my employer. This is a wonderful course that teaches us how to perform CPR, the proper use of automatic external defibrillators (also known as AEDs), and how to perform first aid. Like flight training, it's not necessarily easy to learn and remember these skills, but, once you know them, they stay with you.

Our instructor did bring up some sobering statistics, which you can find here, and where you can also find a course to take. There are more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the United States each year, 70 percent of which are in the home. There is a 90 percent mortality rate for victims prior to reaching the hospital. Effective CPR in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest can increase the chance of survival by 2 or 3 times. If CPR is not performed right away, the chances of survival go down 7 percent for every minute of delay. Fewer than 20 percent of Americans are equipped to perform CPR in an emergency.

I'm discussing this here partly because of aviation's culture of safety and preparedness, as well as the flight instructor's role as a mentor and leader. Who better to set the example of being ready for an emergency? The other reason is that this is the season of giving. What better gift to give yourself and others who may be in sudden need of help? Please consider taking a CPR/first aid course. If you're part of a flight training organization, try to make that a goal for your organization. You may never need the skills you've learned, but like knowing how to get the aircraft safely on the ground after something goes wrong, you and the people you care for may forever be grateful you have them.

Speaking of gifts, are you still looking for that perfect gift for a deserving flight instructor or pilot aspiring to be a flight instructor? Consider giving a gift membership to NAFI. Simply click this link to start the process.

A membership in NAFI is a great way to show that you share their passion for aviation and helping others achieve their goals.




Bob Meder,
NAFI Board Chair
 
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