Natris Morris is certified in Automated External Defibrillators and in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, procedures that have provided him with life-saving skills.

The guidelines for Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, or CPR, have changed in recent years, says Natris Morris. It used to be that CPR protocol called for chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but newer guidelines have revised that and now emphasize chest compressions.

One of the reasons for that, Natris Morris says, is that people often feel uneasy about providing mouth-to-mouth in emergency situations, especially if the victim is a complete stranger. And most people have not been trained in proper mouth-to-mouth techniques, so those who do try to administer it don't do it correctly, and does not improve the patient survival rates. And so in October of 2010, the American Heart Association issued a new set of guidelines for performing CPR that call for more chest compression over mouth-to-mouth.

Natris Morris says that anybody can do hands-only CPR, and that compression-only techniques can be just as effective as traditional CPR. In fact, he says that it can double, and even triple the victim's chances of survival. The new guidelines are that people who see someone suddenly collapse to first call 911, and then push hard and fast in the center of the victim's chest; they say it works best if you think of the disco song "Stayin' Alive," and push the chest to its rhythm.

Medical authorities say that chest compression is the most important part of CPR, which is another reason why it is being emphasized over mouth-to-mouth. There are several reasons for that. Only about a third of those who have suffered cardiac arrest get CPR. And the reason for that is that bystanders are often reluctant to start the procedure. Simplifying it by eliminating the mouth-to-mouth aspect increases the likelihood that someone will attempt it.

Another reason is that medically, the heart needs to keep beating. Natris Morris says that his training has shown that the quicker a victim receives chest compressions that can restore the heart pumping, the better things will go for the victim. And he says that it is the first few minutes that can make all of the difference.