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| Vol. 25, No. 9 |
| May 15, 2003 |
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Training the Troops By JOHN F. MARTINEZ Harris County Hospital District Towanna Thompson and Mathew Philip have been training people in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, for years, but their training recently took on greater significance. Last month, the two Harris County Hospital District staffers trained 18 U.S. Naval reservists, some of whom are now in Iraq. “It was an honor knowing we were providing these brave men and women with life-saving information they could use on the field,” said Thompson, operation manager for respiratory care at Ben Taub General Hospital and a 20-year hospital district employee. “This will not only help them respond to emergency situations, but will also improve the chances of survival for their fellow soldiers who suffer sudden cardiac arrest.” Naval coordinator Lou Mims Russell called Thompson’s and Philip’s training of the troops “invaluable.” “Their help is crucial to ensuring that our troops are well prepared,” she said. “We’re in this together, so having the expertise from the civilian population helps everyone.” Philip, a respiratory therapist also with Ben Taub and a 14-year hospital district employee, considers his opportunity to help the troops a great privilege. “The enthusiasm they showed tells me they really wanted to learn,” he said. “They asked questions and couldn’t wait to put their new skills to practice.” The three-hour training at the Naval Reserve Corps offices near the Texas Medical Center followed strict guidelines set by the American Heart Association. The course taught reservists proper adult CPR procedures and the use of automated external defibrillators, known as AEDs. AEDs provide early victims of sudden cardiac arrest with electric shock to improve survival chances. Before receiving certification, participants were required to perform demonstrations of the maneuvers. “I’m very confident the troops received excellent training and are well prepared to save lives,” Thompson said.
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