Guys, quick, get help, there is a sick person on the gym floor.
Do you know what to do if there is a medical emergency at the gym? Odds are, if you work at a fitness facility, you are already CPR certified, or you should be! There should always be several CPR/AED certified individuals on hand at the gym at any given time.
The first step I took when I decided I wanted to get involved in group fitness was to get my CPR/AED cert. I did the class with one of our instructor/managers who was conducting on-site training. I completed it there for a reasonable price, and it put me one step closer to my goal of teaching. I took the opportunity because it committed me and was an investment toward making the goal real. It also helped build a stronger connection between myself and my instructor. I am all about forging powerful bonds. But that is a story for another post. This one is about medical emergency procedures.
So when I heard this call, I thought, I have been trained for this. We are to direct someone to call 911, immediately check on the victim to determine the best course of action. If the victim is conscious, talk to them and relay all relevant information to the person on the phone with 911. If necessary, begin performing CPR or AED treatments. In this case, the victim was conscious, lying down and seemed irritated by our presence. She had a person with her who appeared to be her medical aide. I actually recognized the aide. I had helped her out with her cell phone earlier. Small world, right?
The aide said her patient was okay. She explained that the woman has epilepsy and that this was a normal episode for her. She assured us it would pass.
I’m with her all the time in case this happens, don’t worry.
As one of the guys present, I understood that, but she had taken ill on the premises, so we needed to take steps to ensure her safety. We are required to help and document the situation, even if the person is not cooperative.
While I spoke with the 911 operator, the woman and her aide began to leave. I asked if she was okay. She did not respond and walked away. The aide said, “thank you for your help,” as she followed her client.
We explained that we needed to fill out a form, but she did not stop to provide any information. She also distanced herself from us while we tried to talk with her on the floor. The aide repeated that there was no need to worry, and that is why she was there. I asked the 911 operator if we should try to keep her there. They advised that if she was leaving voluntarily and declined assistance, there was nothing more for us to do. I confirmed, “So we’re clear on our end?” They said yes and wished us a good day.
She left on her own, declined medical attention from the 911 responders, and did not provide any information. I would say we followed procedure and did everything we could. Regardless of her behavior, the main takeaway here is the process to follow.
So how is that for a Sunday afternoon?
Leave a Reply