No one wants to imagine their child or a child they are watching needing CPR. Those adults that do face this awful situation may wish they had the training to know how to respond. CPR courses in NJ provide specialized pediatric CPR training so parents and caregivers are prepared for responding to a child in an emergency situation.
Reasons that you may need to do CPR on a child include if they are choking, drowning, have received an electrical shock, have an unknown medical issue such as heart or lung disease, have experienced a head trauma, or ingested a poison. Often a preventable accident causes the emergency that requires CPR. The following tips may be helpful in preventing these accidents from occurring in the first place.
1. You should always assume the child can move more than you think. For a baby, always use safety straps on high chairs and strollers and never leave them unattended on an elevated surface such as a bed. Even if they haven’t rolled before, it is possible that today could be the first day they roll and you don’t want it to be off the bed.
2. Make sure only age-appropriate toys are accessible. A child that puts things in their mouth needs to be carefully monitored and their toys should be regularly inspected for loose parts or other hazards.
3. Make the environment as child proofed as possible. Verify all outlets are covered and toxic chemicals are out of reach or stored in a childproof cabinet.
4. Choking is a major concern for young children. Make sure popcorn, coins, grapes, and nuts are always out of reach. Do not allow children to play with balloons especially those children that will try to put the balloon in their mouth. If it pops, it can block the airway.
5. Always carefully watch children around water. This includes bathtubs, swimming pools, ponds and rivers. According to the CDC, 20% of those who die from drowning are children under the age of 14. For each child that dies from drowning, 5 more are treated in an emergency department. Children ages 1 to 4 make up the largest percentage of children who drown.
If you are a parent or child caregiver that would like to learn pediatric CPR so you are prepared in case you face an emergency situation contact us. We realize you are busy and provide the option of coming directly to you. We can tailor the class to your needs and provide American Heart Association and American Red Cross training.
