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When I was in law enforcement my dad ( a M.D.) wanted to get me one of those masks thingers they put over someone's face to give them CPR. I told him not to as I didn't see anytime I would give someone CPR. First off I completely agree with everyone here that CPR on a gunshot wound victim/suspect may do more harm than good. They made us watch a video for some training once concerning that among other things. A state trooper got shot with a little .22 derringer and the bullet hit him in his arm turned into his chest and punctured his heart. He bled out right there on the side of the road. When his backup arrived they started giving him CPR which more than likely just pumped more blood out of his heart. By the way as an aside he shot the bad guy five times in the torso from less than fifteen feet away with a .357 magnum and he lived.

Anyway for those who would give CPR (it seems like nobody here would) to someone who has been shot how do you know CPR will help? I don't! I've been through a whole lot of first aid training and have only been taught to give CPR once. In the Army they don't even teach you how to do it at the one week long combat lifesaver course. The reason why is because if used incorrectly and can do a lot more harm than good. Additionally as a soldier, cop, or even regular Joe who just got into a shooting once you start CPR you aren't supposed to stop. From what I was taught in multiple venues once you start CPR you don't stop until a doctor orders you to do so.

Another good example is my Dad. He was at a charity golf tournament for one of our local Constables and an older guy went down at on a green. They rushed my dad over and he began CPR. He said the guys chest had a huge scar from previous heart surgery. So he begins CPR and because of where they were the ambulance didn't get there until 45 mins later. Now he is a doctor that does surgery, works in a hospital, works in an ER, see's trauma cases, sees death and works with people who are dying however he kept doing CPR the whole time this guy was laid out on the golf course. He's an MD with over thirty years experience and at anytime he could have stopped and said there was no need to go forward this man was gone. But he was not THIS guy's doctor and he would not have been responsible for that man's life until he said to stop. Instead the EMTs say to stop and it's on them and their organization that's insured to deal with someone laid over on a golf course. He can't be sued or hel liable if the family feels he should have kept going because he cared for the injured until someone else took over.

You need to prepare for that if you give someone CPR. You can't just start and then five minutes into it when you are out of breath and about to have a heart attack yourself stop. By the way CPR is very exhausting. Learn it though because someday someone might grip their chest and go down near you. This is time for CPR when they stop breathing and they have no pulse.

On a side note my grandad (my Dad's dad) was in Boy Scouting his whole life. Triple palm Eagle, OA, Scoutmaster, Area Leader, ran the Boy Scout Council area for the San Angelo area. He had a guy he was playing golf with have a heart attack right in front of him and he gave him CPR and saved his life. History may not always repeat itself but it sure does rhyme I guess.

Anyway my point is their is a time for CPR and their is not a time. Just because someone's pulse stops and they aren't breathing doesn't mean they need it. You need to be really trained in it and also know that it's like Pringles. Once you pop (that chest bone does pop!) you can't stop! So be ready to protect yourself and others around you while doing it. Also be ready to feel like you are carrying your gun safe up a flight of stairs by yourself because it's not nice and easy like in the movies.