I’ve never really wanted to be trained in CPR. Just having that knowledge is such a huge responsibility—I wasn’t sure I was quite ready for it. I mean, I get nervous when I have to speak in public, I don’t really like to touch people I don’t know, and the very thought of blood is enough to make me queasy. I just don’t seem like the kind of person someone would want around in a life or death emergency.

But if I learned one thing this week during my CPR training, it’s that anyone can be a hero. It only takes around half an hour to learn adult CPR. That’s how easy it is—HALF AN HOUR! As far as I’m concerned, there is no excuse why nearly everyone in the U.S. would not have this training. Also, from what Carter, the EMT leading my training said, it’s something that almost no one does.

When a rescue team gets to an injured person, someone is administering CPR only 2 percent of the time, according to Carter, who works for the American Environmental Health and Safety Training program.

For those of you who aren’t familiar, CPR stands for CardioPulmonary Resuscitation. And it’s the life-saving procedure you do when someone is unconscious and not breathing. The CPR pumps the blood through their body, and breathes oxygen into their lungs. It’s imperative because someone can become brain dead in a number of minutes when if their heart stops pumping oxygen-rich blood to their brain passes (after someone collapses his or her chances of surviving are decreased by 7-10 percent for every minute that passes before help arrives).

Although we all hope it never happens to us, it’s possible for someone to stop breathing in any yoga class (and I don’t mean stop breathing for a few seconds because she’s uncomfortable in a pose, I mean stop breathing like she had a heart attack.) It doesn’t really matter whether you’re a teacher or student; this is a terrifying reality. I couldn’t be happier that if I’m ever in that situation (I hope and pray I never will be) I will know what to do.

It’s true that knowing CPR is an incredible responsibility, but it’s also an incredible opportunity to help someone who really needs it. It may not be the most pleasant task—especially when you consider the possibility of ribs cracking and stomach fluids rising to the surface—but it sure beats the alternative.

Here are a few websites that offer CPR and first aid training programs:

• American Health and Safety
  http://www.healthsafety.com


• American Heart Association
  
  http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3011764


• American Red Cross
  http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/courses/