Starting with my first job as a lifeguard, many of my postitions required certification in first aid, CPR, and other saftey measures. One class lead to another, and after a few years I was teaching first aid, CPR, lifeguard training, and water safety instructor. Unfortunately, these certifications have to be updated every year or they expire, and when I was in the Peace Corps for two years they all lapsed. Since returning to the U.S. I have not had time to retrain, and the jobs I held have not required such certifications. However, I have not forgotten the knowledge, and it has been very useful to myself and to others in times of medical crisis. My sound base of knowledge allowed me to react effectively in many situations, including: an active water rescue in Marshalltown, Iowa, 1989, an appendicitis in Dresden, Germany, 1990, two epilectic seizures, one in Stuttgart, Germany, 1990, and one in Iowa City, Iowa, 1991, a heart attack in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1991, and a car crash in San Jose, California, 1995.

Iowa Department of Public Health:
    Emergency Medical Technician-Ambulance - expired 12/31/92
Red Cross:
    Standard First Aid - expired 3/2/92
    Adult CPR - expired 3/2/92
    Lifeguard Training - expired 3/8/92
    Introduction to Health Services Education - completed 4/28/89
    Instructor Candidate Training - completed 11/13/91
    Instructor Standard First Aid - expired 12/31/92
    Instructor Standard First Aid & CPR - expired 12/31/93
    Instructor Lifeguard Training New Method - expired 12/31/92
    Instructor Water Safety Instructor New Method - expired 12/31/92
American Heart Association:
    Basic Cardiac Life Support Module C - expired 9/8/91
National Safety Council:
    First Aid and emergency care - completed 4/26/89
YMCA:
    Lifeguard Training - expired 7/31/89