Many years ago I was in a restaurant and started to choke on a piece of food. I had trouble breathing and was very lucky that someone I was with knew how to administer the Heimlich Maneuver. Extremely frightened, I attempted to remain calm and within a few minutes the food dislodged and I was fine. I learned the true meaning of the phrase “knowledge is power.”

Reaction time to an emergency can be a life-or-death factor, and Sutter Delta Medical Center along with Contra Costa County Health Services is educating people in CPR, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. My daughter Jori Luckhardt, a nurse for more than 17 years and now the risk manager and patient safety officer at Sutter Delta, spoke with me about a program that is working on designating towns as HeartSafe Communities. This program is going to increase awareness of the chain of elements for heart health and survival. Jori is currently working on getting Brentwood designated, adding it to Bethel Island, Knightsen, Byron and 11 other towns in our area.

According to the Sutter website, “a HeartSafe Community is a community where all elements of the Chain of Survival are in place and there is a focus on improving the cardiovascular health of its citizens, thereby increasing the chances that anyone suffering a cardiovascular emergency will have the best possible chance for survival.”

The American Heart Association has alleviated the fear of participating in mouth-to-mouth contact while administrating CPR and can instruct people on their website, www.handsonlycpr.org, on how to use a hands-only approach to “save a life in 60 seconds.” An interactive video shows exactly how to perform this simple-to-learn task.

In a medical emergency it is imperative to stay calm, call 911 first and then begin the process of chest compressions. This will not only massage and help the heart, but send oxygen to the lungs as well. The person receiving CPR has more than double the chance of surviving if CPR is given immediately and correctly.

We all hope we never need to use CPR, but an emergency can occur at any time. Being prepared is vital. It puts the power of saving a life in your hands.

– Marla Luckhardt is a Discovery Bay resident and member of the East Contra Costa Senior Coalition. She works with several local senior care and advocacy groups. To contact her, e-mail marla2054@aol.com.