Last week my son and I were on our way to McDonald’s to get two large drinks when suddenly my son told me to turn around and go back. We had just passed the hardware store and as I glanced up I could see that someone was lying on the ground.

I managed to turn the car around and when we pulled into the parking lot of the hardware store I could see that the man was in serious trouble. He appeared to be non-responsive. There were two men standing over the man who was ill.

We asked what had happened and learned that the man had complained of not feeling well, had gone down on his knees, and had then fallen over. They had called 911 and were waiting for the ambulance. My son took the man’s pulse but there was no movement and I knew he needed more help than we could give.

How many times over the years had I thought about taking CPR and didn’t? I have never felt so helpless in my life. I called 911 again and urged them to hurry. They assured me someone was on the way.

I looked at my son kneeling by the man and he looked back at me questioningly. “Pray,” I said. “That’s all we can do.” And we did.

Within a few minutes folks who did know how to administer CPR pulled up and started the procedure.

It was close to one hundred degrees outside that day and I knew the black top the man was hot. I went to my car and found a blue sweater and put it under his head.

Twenty minutes after we arrived on the scene an ambulance arrived. I suspected it was too late and I learned later that it was.

A learning experience…

I live in a very small town and even though I didn’t know this man, I’m sure I knew some of his relatives. I hope they take a little consolation in the fact that he didn’t die alone and that there were people there praying for him.

I will always regret that I didn’t know how to do CPR. One of the first things I did the next day was to call and find a CPR class. I hope I never have to use it but if I do, next time I’ll be ready.

If you don’t know how to do CPR I hope you will learn from my story and take a class. You never know when you might be called upon to save someone’s life.

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