Learning CPR Could Save Your Child’s Life

Far too often, parents have an emergency and are not prepared. Maintain the safety you desire for your family by installing child safety gates. Baby safe barriers will bring you peace of mind and protect your little ones from choking hazards around your home. One of the most important things to do in an emergency is to remain calm, mindful, and confident in your intuition and ability. Learning the Heimlich maneuver and CPR is priceless knowledge. A short session of learning could mean the difference between life and death for a precious soul.

 

The Importance Of Infant CPR

Learning the proper first aid for a baby that’s choking could save a life and bring your family’s safety to the next level. The number of babies and toddlers who die each year from choking in the United States can be so easily overlooked. Ensure you prevent choking hazards from reaching your baby or toddler by installing a baby gate in your home. Babyproofing your home will help prevent future disasters that may require CPR or emergency help. Be prepared and take a CPR course today with your nearest organization. If you are wondering how long it takes to become CPR certified, you are in for a surprise. It only takes 60-90 minutes to become fully certified for CPR. There are courses for infant, child, and adult CPR and each one can be taken online or in person.

 

What Should You Do If A Choking Child Is Coughing?

If a child starts choking, check if they respond to you. If the child responds verbally, can breathe, cry, cough, sputter, or utilize normal reflexes then do not perform CPR or the Heimlich maneuver.

 

How Do You Clear An Airway For A Choking Child Who Is Conscious?

Look in the child’s mouth to see if the lodged item is visible. Pull it out if you can. Please do not blindly sweep your finger through the child’s mouth. Encourage the child to cough for the object to be released naturally.

 

Heimlich Maneuver Steps

In the event that your child’s chest stops moving, loses the ability to breathe, talk, cough, looks blue or falls unconscious, call the local emergency number immediately. If you are unable to call, ask someone around you.

It is important to remain calm and keep a clear head in order to properly care for your child.

For a child who cannot breathe or respond verbally, but has not yet passed out, perform the Heimlich maneuver. The Heimlich maneuver for a child and an adult require very different amounts of force. The force you give may cause broken ribs, which is not entirely the worst outcome. This is fairly common and can heal with time.

 

Heimlich Maneuver For a Baby

Symptoms for a choking infant include a red face, choking, coughing, and gurgling sounds, they need the Heimlich maneuver. Place the child face down in the palm of your hand and at a downward 45-degree angle. Use the heel of your palm to give five quick thrusts to the child’s back.

Carefully flip the child over so the back of their head is in your other hand. Just under the baby’s nipple line press two or three fingers on the baby’s breastbone. (This is the same motion that should be given to a child during CPR for a baby.) Repeat these motions of five thrusts and five compressions until the item is dislodged or the baby loses consciousness.

 

Heimlich Maneuver For Children

For the Heimlich maneuver for children, stand behind the child and wrap your arms around them so your hands are in front of their stomach. Then form a fist with one hand and place it just above the navel (thumb is towards their stomach). Now, wrap the other hand around the fisted hand. Create inward and upward thrusts towards yourself. Repeat these thrusts until the child coughs the piece free. Call your local emergency number. If there is someone in the room with you, ask them to call the local emergency line as you perform the Heimlich maneuver.

 

How Do You Do CPR On An Infant?

Infant CPR is only to be given if they are unresponsive or unconscious. If they are unable to respond, place the infant lying flat on their back on a hard surface. Now, open their airway by tilting their head and chin. If you see something blocking the airway, use your finger to wipe it away. Do Not blindly sweep your finger through their air passage. Check for a verbal or mobile response.

Start chest compressions and place two or three fingers of one hand, on the breastbone just below the nipple line. Compress the chest about 1/3 the depth of the chest. Allow their chest to return to its normal position after each compression. Do 30 compressions.

Begin resuscitating breaths. Cover the nose and mouth with your mouth and give two breaths of one second each. For the breath, simply fill your mouth with enough air to puff your cheeks out. Let the air out as if to blow out a candle. You should be seeing the chest rise with each breath.

Return to chest compressions. Repeat this cycle of 30 compressions to two breaths. After 5 full cycles, if no one has already alerted emergency attention, take a moment to call your local emergency helpline.

 

Steps For CPR On A Child

If the child quits breathing and becomes unconscious, perform CPR. Prepare the child by laying them down on a firm surface. Tilt their head back and chin up slightly to open up their airway. If there is any visible foreign object in their mouth sweep it out with one or two fingers.

Do not attempt to blindly remove any lodged items.

Begin compressions to their chest with the heel of one or both hands on the breastbone just below the nipple line and compress the chest about 1/3 the depth of the chest. Allow their chest to return to its normal position after each compression. Do 30 compressions.

Start resuscitating breaths. Take a normal breath then pinch their nose and cover their mouth with yours and give two breaths of one second each. You should be seeing the chest rise with each breath.

Return to chest compressions. Repeat this cycle of 30 compressions to two breaths. After 5 full cycles, if no one has already alerted emergency attention, take a moment to call your local emergency helpline.

It is impossible to prevent every accident your children may endure but baby gates by Perma Child Safety are an effective solution to keep your children from choking hazards. Remember to ready your mind with proper CPR courses and share this post with extended family and friends. This shared knowledge of CPR and the Heimlich maneuver could one day save countless lives.