For the most part, we all get to go about our daily lives without interruption – we work, spend time with loved ones and so much more. But what if something happens that brings it all to a screeching halt? If you were to find yourself in an emergency situation, would you be prepared to be of assistance to others and yourself?

We take safety education seriously here at the South Dakota Rural Electric Association. Just last week we had our manager of loss control services, Mark Patterson, take SDREA staff through CPR and first aid training. It was engaging and hands-on, and by the end we were equipped with the knowledge to assist others while also keeping ourselves safe in a health emergency. Mark talked us through the steps leading up to chest compressions, then how to effectively perform CPR. He did all this while demonstrating on a dummy so we could see exactly what he meant before doing compressions on our own dummies. Mark also guided us through how to use an AED, a crucial tool in situations where someone’s heart needs to be restarted. We then moved on to first aid and what to do (or NOT do) when faced with different types of injury. After about two and a half hours, we were fully up-to-date on CPR and first aid best practices!

Now, it can seem a little nerve-wracking or even scary to contemplate finding yourself in the middle of a health emergency. And with any luck, most of us will never be in such a situation! But being prepared empowers you to be of service to others and yourself. SDREA understands the value and peace of mind that this type of training provides, which is why we offer it to our members. Be it out in the field, in the office or at home – safety matters.