CPR, Spanish, and what else ?

[HappyCamper]

[font="Century Gothic"]Still gathering info and would appreciate the help in my quest to become a CM.

Spanish lessons are on my to-do list.
CPR is probably a good thing to learn, too.
Cast member referral helps.

What else can you think of that would help me to become a CM, and then be a good one?

TIA.[/font]

[Nobleman]

[font="Century Gothic"]

What else can you think of that would help me to become a CM, and then be a good one?

TIA.[/font]

Can you grow ears and a tail? Then you'd be a natural. :D:

Sounds like you're one of my competition. What "areas" are you looking to work in?

Personally I'm having a hard time with all the different human resources angles that companies take. In one place you hear that they want you to bring skills to the table where they don't need to train you, and in others you hear that they don't want you to have any experience elsewhere because that makes you malleable into their way of doing things.

WDW sort of drives me nuts on this because they have a lot of positions you would expect them to want prior experience for, but the job descriptions say things like willing to train and don't require experience.

I also hate that they want you to pick 3 areas, when I might be willing to work in 6 or more.

I really miss when you could walk up to a manager and say "I'm looking for work".

[Zazu]

[font="Century Gothic"]What else can you think of that would help me to become a CM, and then be a good one?[/font]

Show them you can smile and breathe at the same time. That seems to be the minimum standard these days.

A second language is a big help, but there are lots of Spanish speakers around -- learn Portuguese or Japanese if you really want a feather in your cap.

And forget the CPR -- we have automatic defibrillators now. Only Alpha crews are permitted to do CPR.

[DisneyMom]

Show them you can smile and breathe at the same time. That seems to be the minimum standard these days.

A second language is a big help, but there are lots of Spanish speakers around -- learn Portuguese or Japanese if you really want a feather in your cap.

And forget the CPR -- we have automatic defibrillators now. Only Alpha crews are permitted to do CPR.

Really? I am hearing that the Heart Association is teaching compression-only CPR to try to get the general public to do SOMETHING to help,and the AED (automatic defibrillator) will actually tell you to continue CPR after delivering a shock. EARLY defibrillation and EARLY CPR are being stressed in the classes. Don't see why anyone would be prohibited to help
very slim chance of coming back even if everything done correctly and promptly, so it never hurts to try as long as you have some idea what to do.

[hobie16]

Really? I am hearing that the Heart Association is teaching compression-only CPR to try to get the general public to do SOMETHING to help,and the AED (automatic defibrillator) will actually tell you to continue CPR after delivering a shock. EARLY defibrillation and EARLY CPR are being stressed in the classes. Don't see why anyone would be prohibited to help
very slim chance of coming back even if everything done correctly and promptly, so it never hurts to try as long as you have some idea what to do.

The last first responder class I took (I need to go again) stressed DO SOMETHING!! Don't just stand there.

As usual, DisneyMom is correct about all things medical. We see, on average, about one death a week in the ocean below where I live. It's almost like it's the same guy every week. "Male, 50s, found floating in ocean, dragged ashore. CPR/mouth to mouth preformed until fire department arrived. Declared deceased at scene."

My assumption is most of the victims are not in the best of shape to begin with. The water is clear and warm, lots of fish to see, not much shore break. Rent some snorkel gear and go out alone for a dive. Stay out too long, overstress the system and boink, heart attack.

Bottom line, if you're not exercising on a regular basis where you hit max heart rate a few times during your workout, don't think you'll be fine having at it on vacation. You won't. Walking is a start but you gotta stress the system on a regular basis.

Oh yeah, use the buddy system anytime you're swimming.

[turkeyham]

I remember taking CPR in college. I need to up date my training. My parents went to Angel Stadium at the beginning of the summer. They are now certified. I wish I knew they were going for the class, I would have done it too.

[Shorty82]

Immediate CPR saves lives. Disney knows this, that's why they offer free CPR courses to CMs every so often. Duty managers, life guards, a number of other CMs, and possibly Security are required to be CPR certified as they are designated as "First Responders".

AEDs are only part of the equation, that's why they are programmed to talk an untrained person through giving CPR.

I've never heard anything about Disney policy not allowing CMs to perform CPR. We're not required to perform CPR but we are allowed to if we feel safe doing so. We're protected by the Good Samaritan Laws if it fails. I was told that during CPR training (I took one of the free courses a while back).

On that note, I personally dislike what the Operating Guidelines say about AEDs. They say that AEDs are available for use by "trained persons" even though official Disney policy no longer says that (and hasn't for at least 2 years I'm pretty certain). I don't like that as AEDs are designed to be used by anyone, whether or not they are trained. A lot of CMs don't know a lot about AEDs and only know what the OGs say so believe training is needed to use them which could cost a life if no one gets and uses an AED because they aren't trained to use one. When the AEDs were first deployed Disney policy only allowed trained people to use them but that was to protect Disney and the CMs as at the time the Good Samaritan laws didn't cover AED use. When Florida changed the law to include AEDs Disney changed their policies.

I got CPR/AED certified a while back, which is something I was wanting to do for years. I hope to never need to make use of my training but I wanted it just in case.

I remember taking CPR in college. I need to up date my training. My parents went to Angel Stadium at the beginning of the summer. They are now certified. I wish I knew they were going for the class, I would have done it too.

Check with Safety and Health (or whatever they call the DLR version of that department) about CPR courses. WDW offers free courses to all CMs periodically and I assume (and hope) that DLR does the same.

[Teresa Kay]

Really? I am hearing that the Heart Association is teaching compression-only CPR to try to get the general public to do SOMETHING to help,

Yes, they are. There was a study done in Europe that showed two things: 1. people were more willing to do something if Mouth-to-Mouth was taken out of the equation and 2. Compression only is actually as effective as the standard CPR. Both are a last ditch option because if you are doing them correctly, you will almost always break a rib.

I agree with Zazu, forget the Spanish. Learn another language, if that's what you want to do.

[Zazu]

Good to hear that Disney policy has gotten more rational on CPR and AED use. News of these changes hasn't yet reached me through official channels, but then not all that much does.

Haven't seen a notice about CPR classes since 2001.

[Nobleman]

I'm just glad WDW has them.

In my office, one of my co-workers dropped dead. I don't think an AED or further CPR would have saved her. Trained people worked on her for a while, but I think they just discovered her too late. One of those massive ones.

I had been part of the "emergency team" that covers a few things along those lines. When they brought the grief counselors around and then started asking for suggestions, comments, etc, I recommended that there at least be one or two AED available in the building...

"We'll take that under consideration."