This past weekend, my husband and I thought we were witnessing a heart attack.

We were having dinner at our friend’s home, when our friend suddenly clutched his chest. He told us he had immense chest pain in the heart area and pain radiating down his left arm — classic heart attack signs. Luckily he was still breathing and could speak a little, but he was in a lot of pain. He quickly turned red, sweating, with tears rolling down his face. He sat still, not wanting to move.

After about 10 seconds, I jumped up to call 911, but my friend asked me to wait a moment. I was paralyzed, wondering if I should listen to my friend or to go with my instinct to call for help. To honor my friend’s wishes, I waited for about 20 or 30 more seconds. Just as I was about to pick up the phone, he said the pain had disappeared, almost as quickly as it came.

Phew.

It was a Friday evening, and we encouraged our friend to go to the emergency room to get checked out. For all we knew, he could have had a small heart attack. We gave him some aspirin, to help thin his blood, just in case. He decided he would call his doctor the next morning, who did admit him to the hospital for tests that day.

Luckily I didn’t have to call 911 or attempt to give CPR. While I do remember how to give CPR, my last class was twenty years ago, when I was taking health education in middle school. My husband just recently took a CPR class for work, and he told me how the techniques and recommendations have really changed.

It was a wake up call for me, that I’m just not prepared. So, I’m signing up at my local YMCA for CPR and First Aid classes.

Could you save a life if you need to? When was the last time you learned CPR? If you live locally to me, please join me at the Valley Shore YMCA (www.vsymca.org) in Westbrook, CT.

Community CPR: Wednesday, April 4 and Wednesday, April 11, 6 pm to 10 pm, $60 (+ book fee)

First Aid: Thursday, April 12, 9 am to 1 pm, $30 (+ book fee)

If these classes don’t work for you, check your local YMCA or other community health organization for classes.

Please take the time out of your busy schedule to learn and refresh your knowledge of CPR and First Aid. Usually when you need it, it’s too late to learn.

Please respond to this post and let me know if you decide to come to these classes, or if you’ve been inspired to take classes where you live!