Almost had to use a pressure dressing on someone just now.  While walking on the sidewalk in town, I saw a lady in a wheelchair with a leg wound and puddle of blood.  Slow veinous bleed with a 1/2 to 3/4 pint of blood on the ground.  She was holding the wound but did not stop the bleeding.  Ambulance arrived just as I saw it.  Not sure what happened, seemed like an accident or illness related since she was calm.

Anyone have to perform serious or life saving treatment in real life?  Share your stories.

CPR 5 times.
2 drownings, first pretty much DOA upon arrival to me with a strike to solar plexus via kayak flipping 180 yds out, second was heart attack for snorkeler kept viable till EMS arrival (17 minutes worth of CPR) died an hr later at hospital, 2 heart attacks on plane, one before takeoff the other mid flight, and 1 aneurism, my own mother who lived another 16 years.

Did CPR once unsuccessfully but the baby didn't make it, was probably too late to have made a difference.

One time I should have done CPR but didn't. I found a lady in her 80s having a heart attack in a parking lock. She was unconscious but gasping for breath so I didn't realize CPR was applicable. The paramedic later told me that even though she was gasping I could have started chest compressions. They shocked her at the scene and I later found out she recovered.

Did CPR once unsuccessfully but the baby didn't make it, was probably too late to have made a difference.

One time I should have done CPR but didn't. I found a lady in her 80s having a heart attack in a parking lock. She was unconscious but gasping for breath so I didn't realize CPR was applicable. The paramedic later told me that even though she was gasping I could have started chest compressions. They shocked her at the scene and I later found out she recovered.

How is not doing CPR considered a "Real life first aid experience?"  Seems more like poor judgement preventing you from administering first aid.

Failure to render aid might provide an experience that teaches you to do better if there is a next time, but unless you provided first aid, I don't think this qualifies as a first aid experience.

Remind me to never be around you when I have a medical emergency.  I'd rather have a baby sitter who's certified in life saving help me.

Did CPR once unsuccessfully but the baby didn't make it, was probably too late to have made a difference.

One time I should have done CPR but didn't. I found a lady in her 80s having a heart attack in a parking lock. She was unconscious but gasping for breath so I didn't realize CPR was applicable. The paramedic later told me that even though she was gasping I could have started chest compressions. They shocked her at the scene and I later found out she recovered.

Sometimes they'll appear to be gasping for breath but not actually breathing.  Just moving their mouth.

How is not doing CPR considered a "Real life first aid experience?"  Seems more like poor judgement preventing you from administering first aid.

Failure to render aid might provide an experience that teaches you to do better if there is a next time, but unless you provided first aid, I don't think this qualifies as a first aid experience.

Remind me to never be around you when I have a medical emergency.  I'd rather have a baby sitter who's certified in life saving help me.

Do you not understand the concept of learning from failure or are you just trying to start another pointless argument to get your jollies? I rendered aid and the lady lived so not even sure why you think it is a failure. Perhaps if I found you suffering a medical emergency you would prefer me not help you at all merely because I am not at the level of a paramedic.

Sometimes they'll appear to be gasping for breath but not actually breathing.  Just moving their mouth.

Exactly, that was the key lesson I learned. I now share that with others so they have that same knowledge.

Careless with the knife making breakfast and cut my finger.  Relatively minor cut but dripping quite a bit of blood.  Felt queezy, guess I'm not as tough as I thought LOL