Hands-on experience

0 Comments | USA TODAY, July, 2008 | by Kim Painter

On a recent rainy Saturday, I learned:

*Several ways I might save the life of someone who's having a heart attack. (One possibility involves aspirin.)

*The warning signs of a stroke and what to do, immediately, if someone displays them. (On the list: Note the exact time.)

*How to save someone who's choking -- and what to do differently if that person happens to be in a wheelchair. (Step 1: Lock the chair wheels.)

*Why you should never give a drink to an injured person in shock. (They may need an empty stomach for surgery later.)

That's just a partial list of what was covered during a class on first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) given by my local American Red Cross chapter. It's training that health experts wish...