16. Learn CPR

Completed: 04/11/2013

Partners in my quest for CPR certification

This is one of the more practical items on my bucket list. I wanted to learn a useful skill, thus wanting to learn how to properly perform CPR to potentially save a life.

In researching where I could go to take a CPR class, I was actually quite bummed to learn that it cost so much to learn this life-saving skill (it ranged from $40 to about $80). Since Castle Medical Center provided the cheapest rate, I chose to go there on a Thursday morning to take the class. On this day, my sister accompanied me to learn CPR (for adults, children, and infants) with training for using an AED (a defibrillator machine) as well as how to help those who are choking (adults, children, and infants).

Our instructors were Doug and Ed, retired firemen who were humorous, funny, and who I could picture being great firemen who knew their stuff and could make you feel safe. Our class consisted of only 7 students, so we each had our own set of adult and infant mannequins to work with.

Our training was done mainly through a video series by the American Heart Association, but interspersed with re-emphasis of major points and stories by Doug and Ed.

Learning CPR is not as simple as it looks. We were told that the main things to be aware of in performing proper CPR are:

-Start with compressions, above the end of the middle of the rib cage. Press two inches deep at a rate of 100 beats per minute (do a count of 30).

-Tilt head back to open the airway up and then give two breaths. Make sure to watch if the chest rises, but make sure not to blow too quick/much air as to not upset stomach contents (which may end up as vomit).

-Make sure not to stop compressions for more than ten seconds; if air is not successfully blown into the patient, then go back to compressions rather than trying to blow until successful.

-At any time when the defibrillator arrives, stop CPR to use. Luckily, technology is advanced enough so that instructions are clearly verbalized so you don't need to remember the specific steps. But under pressure, it can be difficult to remain attentive to the details.

-When assisting someone who you think is choking, be sure to ask if the person is choking and get their permission before performing the Heimlich maneuver (Good Samaritan laws where you might get in trouble for battery if you happen to mistakenly help someone who didn't actually need it).

-For children and infants, in addition to using less pressure since they have smaller bodies, try to administer CPR prior to calling 911 for help (only if alone) since children tend to have healthier hearts and so CPR may be more beneficial first.

It was kind of tough to perform CPR; doing compressions was tiring, and blowing air down the mannequin's airway isn't easy either. Even the process of assessing a situation and determining whether to administer CPR consists of quite a number of steps that would be easy to forget in the moment. And it certainly doesn't help that the situations that call for CPR are quite stressful and produce lots of adrenaline and pressure. I mean, someone's life is on the line. But as the instructors continually reiterated throughout the training, you doing anything is more helpful than not, so just got to remember to keep that in mind. All in all, a pretty good learning experience; I hope I never have to utilize this skill I acquired though.

 CPR certified, baby

15. Learn How to do My Own Taxes

Completed: 03/31/2013

 

The infamous Form 1040

I am a spoiled child. I was aware of this fact before completing this bucket list item, but actually going through the tedious process of completing my taxes was a strong reminder for how much my family does for me. The single page, double-sided 1040 form looks deceptively short, but to fill it out to the best of my abilities and take as many deductions as possible took many long hours to complete. It's like the SAT; the demographic information is the easiest part of the test and makes you feel good like you're making some progress, but when you get to the meat of it, it requires high levels of concentration and drains quite a bit of brainpower in order to stay focused for so long. So taxing (pun definitely intended).

For those who have straightforward income and expenses, then lucky you because the 1040 doesn't turn out to be such a headache. But to those who wish to maximize their dollars by taking the appropriate deductions, it's such a maze to complete the line items of the 1040. Language in the instructions is no fun to read (not that I expected it to be), you may be lead you to other publications for further instructions, or there's the potential to fill out entirely different forms in order to figure out the value to put on a single line. Most disheartening is when you go through the entire process only to find out that you don't qualify for such a deduction/credit/tax break in the end. But on the flip side, when the result is a sizable amount of money in your favor, it certainly brings a sense of satisfaction. It seems like all these obstacles to the deductions/credits are in place to discourage people from taking advantage of them and instead opt for the lazy way out of just paying the amount of taxes they owe. But for those who persevere and aren't daunted by all the math and reading, success is quite sweet. All right, might be a little exaggeration, but it certainly beats dishing out hundreds of dollars for someone else to do something I can do myself.

After completing federal taxes, I was not looking forward to moving onto the state forms. But as long as the N-11 is, the process seemed more straightforward than the 1040 (at least the worksheets were shorter than the supplemental forms that the 1040 sometimes required).

My sister and mom tell me that the first year is the hardest because that's when all the research and going through the instructions, publications, and forms are necessary. But after conquering this huge mountain, future tax years are much easier to complete since little changes occur from year to year on tax forms (and which are conveniently addressed in the beginning of the most updated instructions/publications). Also, my sister and mom are great in their method of record-keeping throughout the year in order to make the consolidation of expenses much easier during tax time since it's already done. Here's to getting over the huge hump and having a smoother ride the rest of the way. Thanks Stacy and Mom for helping me with these forms throughout all the years!