Daily Herald opinion: American Heart Month is a fitting time for CPR, AED training

When an opponent collapsed in front of him on a paddle tennis court in Deerfield, Jon Gault recognized a case of cardiac arrest and knew exactly what to do.

Would you?

That harrowing episode serves as reminder that we all should brush up on CPR - and what better time than February, which is American Heart Month?

CPR guidance has changed significantly since the last time most of us took a health class. The American Heart Association now recommends that civilians who respond to an emergency focus on chest compressions only - and leave the mouth-to-mouth component to the professionals.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves: The first action you should take when someone collapses is to call 911.

Next, start chest compressions. Your hands should be centered over the chest, with your shoulders directly over your hands and your elbows locked.

You should press hard (at least 2 inches) and fast (100 to 120 beats per minute). The American Heart Association actually suggests you use a familiar song as a reference point - the aptly named "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees is one example. "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé and Jay-Z, "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira and even "Walk the Line" by Johnny Cash also provide the correct beat.

But let's return to the scene in Deerfield.

Jon Gault's CPR knowledge was one factor in Steve Farber's survival. The other was the presence of an automated external defibrillator at the Tennaqua Swim and Racquet Club.

An AED analyzes a person's heart rhythm and delivers an electric shock to restore it to normal.

As Gault performed CPR on Farber, another player, Todd Siau, grabbed the AED, fired it up and followed the voice prompts.

Siau had some rescue training from his days as a Marine Corps reservist and as a teenage lifeguard.

Many of us, however, are decades removed from even a basic first aid course, let alone AED instruction.

The websites of both the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association can help you find a class in your community.

Some municipalities and fire departments also offer CPR training. The Arlington Heights Fire Department, for example, offers a class every other month, with the next one scheduled for 6 to 9:30 p.m. March 20. The cost is just $20 for a resident, $50 for a nonresident, and includes a textbook and CPR card.

That's a minimal investment of time and money for a priceless outcome in an emergency.