Keep On Training: It’s better to do something than not
- NEIA Red Cross
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
By Janet Flanagan
Otho David Smith has one goal for his work with the American Red Cross in Omaha.
“Just keep training.”
The part-time training instructor estimates he has taught thousands in his 25 plus years with the Red Cross.
Born in Virginia, he’s an “old inactive EMT” who has worked in a hospital ER, worked full and part-time for the Red Cross, and served as a former fire-fighter and in command and control with the U.S. Air Force.
Now retired from serving his country at Omaha’s Offutt Air Force Base, he loves staying busy helping others.
Smith teaches classes on a wide variety of emergencies: adult first aid and CPR, pediatric CPR, basic life support, handling severe bleeding and more. The life skill knowledge he shares can range from babysitting and childcare, to how to respond to a diabetic reaction, to how to administer Narcan to a person overdosed on opioids.
He has even trained pet owners on pet first aid in years past. Today, he says, the Red Cross continues to offer that training as an online class.
“I am scheduled to train when they need me,” Smith says. “I love going out to communities and meeting with people. This week is kind of slow, but next week is every day.”
What surprises people in training?
“People are worried that compressions can be difficult,” he says. “Some are surprised at how easy it is to do chest compressions. The number two thing we hear as instructors if ‘I hope I never have to use this.’ Then later we hear ‘Man, I’m glad I knew something.’”
He has taught others about how to handle a choking victim. If it’s you who is choking, he has this advice:
“Stand up and try to get people’s attention,” he says. “Put your hands around your throat. It’s the universal sign for choking. If you see someone doing that and running to a bathroom, follow them.”
Smith enjoys gathering with other trainers at Red Cross meetings.
“I love talking to the younger instructors and exchanging stories,” he says, “sharing how we should we do this and how should we do that.”
He recently recertified one of those younger instructors, Rebecca Schroeder, who is an employee trainer for Metro Credit Union in Omaha.
“I remember when Otho certified me to be an instructor for the Red Cross about eight or nine years ago,” Schroeder says. “He made me feel comfortable, especially about life-threatening situations. He made me feel confident.”
Over the years, Schroeder has passed on the feeling of confidence in training over 380 people at her job at Metro, which serves the Omaha area from five separate locations.
In addition to training employees in how to respond in the case of emergencies the company has purchased AED (automated external defibrillator) units for all its locations, she adds.
“Yesterday, Otho trained me to be recertified,” she says. “I need to renew my certification for adult and pediatric first aid and CPR to continue my role as an instructor.
“Red Cross training itself is amazing,” Schroeder adds. “They help us understand why people are hesitant to respond to a life-threatening event. You learn how to recognize an emergency and what to do within your scope of training. You help people feel better about jumping in and assisting someone who needs help.
“It’s always something you never want to use, but thankful that you have that knowledge in case you do.”
Schroeder echoes the thoughts of her trainer Otho, who motivated her to become a certified instructor.
“Life can happen at any time,” she says. “If something life-threatening is happening, we can be prepared to make a difference in someone’s chance for survival.”