If a homeless man was dying on the street, would you give him CPR?

Question

And explain why or why not. Be completely honesty.

Answer 1

Of course I would. Whether or not he was homeless would mean nothing.

Answer 2

I have preformed on the scene CPR three times in my life. Twice on the battlefield and in a manner of speaking soldiers in combat are homeless too! Another at the scene of an accident. It is not a pleasent thing to have to do I agree, but if you know CPR and don't take action it will live with you the rest of your life.

Many of your responders are so short-sighted and uneducated. Giving CPR to a homeless individual is nothing different than giving CPR to anyone else in an emergency situation. You are saving someones life no matter who that individual is.

If you didn't, you'll pay the ticket when you get to the big man!

Answer 3

Assuming no breathing, no heartbeat (the indications for CPR): yes, I would give CPR (using some sort of barrier, if I had one).

I'm a nurse; I've taken personal vows to do what I reasonably can do, to help ease suffering---and letting someone in front of me just _die_ is not quite proper. Some level of personal risk goes with certain jobs.

But I didn't have any mask available.....honestly, I would have some nervous willies later on, worrying about picking up tuberculosis or some other airborne infection. (HIV or hepatitis infection requires blood-to-blood or sexual contact, and thus is really, really low risk in CPR.) I'd probably be getting checked out by my health care provider, just in case.

Answer 4

First I'd need ascertain why he was dying. CPR isn't a panacea for people who are dying. If he was unconscious then one should check the breathing and then I'd call 911. I took CPR training 15 years ago and haven't kept up so I wouldn't want to make an unfortunate situation worse. Get some professionals there and tell them what you know about his condition, pulse, respiration, etc, But start compressions, etc. I don't feel confident enough. The best thing about this question is that it reminded me to get myself up to date.

Answer 5

How would you know he was homeless?

Having been in similar situations, the first thought is 'what is happeing, can I help?' I am not sure I would notice that he was homeless very easily.

Sure, if the victim is ugly, smelly, bloody, or has vomited, there will be a reluctance to help if you don't have proterctions of some sort- but these conditions can apply to non-homeless people as well.

Answer 6

To begin with you don't give CPR to dying people. CPR on people who are alive could kill them. You perform CPR on people who are already dead. Dying people have a pulse, dead people don't.

If I had the proper equipment to protect myself from diseases then yes I would. Without this equipment I would do chest compressions but no rescue breathing. Sacrificing yourself for one person you don’t know is dumb and helps nobody and you know it. Save the self sacrifice for soldiers, firefighters, and the secret service.

There are only six people for whom I am willing to die or get a terrible disease in order to save their life. The homeless guy in front of the gas station is not one of the six. If I don’t do CPR because I can’t protect myself I won’t loose any sleep over it (I will in fact sleep quite well), or have an incredibly cliché and overly dramatic moral and ethical debate with myself. I have seen people die in front of me before, and I will see it many more times. It is part of my job.

On the first day of EMT class I was told my safety comes before the safety of my partner and my patient. The patient’s safety always comes last. I was told this same thing on the first day of paramedic school, and I completely agree

Answer 7

no because i don't know cpr. But if i were a licensed professional i would as long as i knew it would do ssome difference. That is why people are in that line of work to help people beit the rich or poor. and if someone didn't help the homeless person for any reason other than they don't know how to do it, then they are n't serving thir part in humanity!

Answer 8

As I'm not CPR certified, I doubt if I would...I wouldn't want to mess him up more! I really can't say if I wouldn't try it or not! In case of emergency, this is it! No one else is around! I'm sure I'd give the ole girl scout try! But, I would definitely hop on the nearest phone, and call 911! Probably scream and jump around for help! And Pray! And curse the sucker for not cooperating!

Answer 9

He is a human being and a life is a life. I dont know if I could stand there and watch him suffocate while an ambulance came. I'm an EMT in training, and you have to learn to put others first. If I got sick from it, oh well, at least the poor man didnt suffocate because I was selfish. Just because someone lives on the streets doesnt mean he's diseased or dirty.

Answer 10

well, that would depend on if he needed it or not. if he was going into cardiac arrest, then yes, i would. for two reason: the first, not necessarily the most important; however, very important, if someone needed cpr in my presence and i declined help, i would get sued. second reason, and also the most important reason, everyone has a right to live, and everyone deserves help from others. why would i deny help to those who needs it? on the basis of whether they have a home or not? get real...

Answer 11

O would call an ambulance and I would make sure he gets better, I would pay for accomadation for him and then I would make sure he applies for a job. I would probably see that in the future he earns enough to buy a house. Well that's what I would like to happen. No matter what we have done, we deserve a clean slate and we should treat each person as our own relative.

LoVe ThY nEiGhBoUr MaN!!!!!!!!!!!