“Lub Dub Lub Dub Lub Dub,” by Helen Simpson

Lois and Tracey met for a quick flat white at a London Costa before Lois’s 10:07 train from Euston to the Midlands, where she visits her 92-year-old mother every two weeks. Their conversation ranged from the challenges of a new electric cooker to the realities of heart health, reflecting broader concerns about aging, healthcare and the unpredictability of life.

Tracey lamented the new electric hob, which she found difficult to control, while Lois pointed out that Tracey had bought it for Adam’s health. Adam, who had recently retired, had faced four Dyno-Rod callouts in two weeks due to drainage issues. The discussion took a medical turn after Adam’s experience at the gym, where a fellow runner suffered a cardiac arrest during a Champions League highlights replay. Adam, a 65-year-old, had witnessed the defibrillator in action and the subsequent triple bypass surgery on the 57-year-old victim.

The friends also touched on the risks of electromagnetic interference from induction stovetops with pacemakers, a concern Tracey humorously exaggerated. Lois shared her family history of heart disease, recalling her father’s sudden passing decades earlier. Tracey, reflecting on her own family’s health struggles, mentioned her mother-in-law’s independence despite her age and the dangers of her home’s staircase.

Later, Tracey attended a three-hour cardiac arrest workshop led by a course instructor with a Welsh name that sounded like “Weary.” The session covered the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), emphasizing the importance of quick action and proper technique. Attendees learned that survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests remain low, with fewer than 10% of victims surviving. The instructor demonstrated chest compressions on a training mannequin named “Little Anne,” stressing the need for forceful and continuous compressions, preferably to the rhythm of *Stayin’ Alive* by the Bee Gees.

Tracey left the workshop with a mix of grim realism and dark humor, recording voice notes about the session’s highlights, including the instructor’s frank discussion about potential rib fractures during CPR. She also noted the practicality of having a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order visibly placed in the home to prevent unnecessary medical interventions.

The day’s conversations underscored the fragility of life and the importance of preparedness, whether in the kitchen, the gym or beyond.

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