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I am recertifying for CPR and taking the regular class rather than the recert class. The instructor asked the students what their greatest CPR fear was and an inordinant number of students said that their greatest fear was to do the CPR wrong. Some sounded as if they might do nothing rather than perform the CPR imperfectly. I was, needless to say, rather shocked.
It seems to be yet another manifestation of ego. There is such an attachment to performance that one might allow someone to remain dead rather than revive them. Okay, okay, maybe they don't realize that life or death means just that. Maybe they aren't privy to the idea that there are moments when action is more crucial than fear. Sometimes in those moments, setting aside anxiety and fear of outcome is more relevant to success than over analyzing moment to moment.
As it is true for saving a life, in emergency aid, so it is true in preserving one's own safety.
I believe that letting the mind run wild with "Why is this person attacking me? What did I do to deserve this? How could they have such hostility toward me to want to cause me harm? What if I am hurt badly, maimed, or even killed?" during the moment of no return is sure to end in folly.
Yes, do everything to disuade, prevent, divert, the hostile person before the attack happens. Do all you can to not injure them while keeping yourself safe. However, in the moment...
"Free of weakness,
No-mindedly ignore
The sharp attacks
Of your enemies:
Step in and act!"
In addition, if you out run, out blend, and outlast your 'enemy' and they happen to clutch their chest in pain, then fall over from an acute myocardial infarction, don't be attached to whether or not you will perform CPR well, just pump and blow dammit.
02-29-2004 08:32 PM 
