Infant/Child CPR - What You Need to Know
- Dec 11, 2015
Infant/Child CPR – What You Need to Know
Contributed by Pamela Brawer, R.N., CCE, certified American Heart Instructor, Certified Childbirth Instructor, and founder of Save-A-Tot.
Anyone caring for a baby or child should take a class in Infant/Child CPR. That includes you, your husband, and any caregivers like grandparents or nannies. The stark truth is that unintentional choking and accidents are the leading causes of all injuries and deaths from birth to five years old. Then comes drowning and illness. It’s all about prevention but we are not machines and we are not perfect. That is why they are called accidents. But if something does happen, you and whoever is caring for your child should know what to do. I always say…. Can you answer this question? “IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO MY BABY WILL I KNOW WHAT TO DO” If the answer is no then it is important to take a class and become educated. Nannies and grandparents spend allot of time with our children during awake hours and need to be able to answer that question as well.
Moms ask me all the time when is the best time to take a class. It is not a clear-cut answer. Many parents take a CPR class when they are taking their preparation to labor classes and that can help make a parent feel like they are ready in all ways for their baby’s arrival. However many times it can be information overload and then there is that pregnancy brain. So my tip is this...
It is never too early or late to take a lifesaving class. Do it when it is best for you. And don’t be afraid to take a class before your baby is born and then take a refresher after your little one has arrived. Chances are you will never have to use what you learn, but at least you'll be confident that you can care for your baby in an emergency. If you take it after your child is born place it in your calendar for around 3-6 months. At this time your baby has become a little person and a class may have more meaning. It is smart to take a class around oral stage when a baby is learning to eat and put everything in his or her mouth. That is when you need to be prepared. Infant CPR is from birth-1 year. Young child CPR is 1-4 years. Please note, the techniques are different for babies/children of different ages.
If you are hiring a nanny or babysitter you will want to make sure they have taken a CPR class within the last 2 years. If they have not, that is okay. It is wise to offer to pay and send them to a class. Some care givers may also want a refresher class even if they have already been trained. At Yummy Mummy we have a nanny CPR class monthly. I feel it is so important for a nanny to know what to do in an emergency. It is her job! In fact about 80% of the nannies that take my class do not know what to do for basic emergencies including where the closest Pediatric ER is or what to do when the child falls or is bleeding. It is important for parents to go over all of this at the time of hire. It is best for a child to go to a Pediatric ER because they are staffed with Pediatric MDs and RNs that specialize in children. Remember that in the event of a life and death situation or serious injury you should always call 911. Nannies also need a permission letter to take the child to the hospital. See the below example to use as a reference. Also have a copy of the child’s insurance card and medical history if needed (allergies, medications, etc.) Again, chances are you will never need these things, but it is better to be prepared.
Taking a CPR class will insure that you are prepared in case an emergency occurs. In an infant CPR class, you will learn how to prevent, recognize, and respond to cardiac and breathing emergencies. Classes can be taught in the privacy of your home. CPR parties are becoming quite popular. Get your family together, group of friends or even your mom group. Mingle and learn valuable information. Now that is a productive evening!
Save-A-Tot offers classes in Infant/Child CPR & First Aid. Parents, expectant parents and caregivers will learn life-saving information on infant/child CPR and First Aid. In addition to CPR, you'll learn choking prevention (including the Heimlich maneuver), vital information on poisoning/drowning, SIDS prevention, falls, head injuries, bleeding, safety, baby-proofing and allergies.
SAMPLE LETTER
Parent’s Name
1234 Main Street
Anytown, State ZIP
123-456-7890
To whom it may concern,
We, NAME OF PARENTS are the parents of NAME OF CHILD. We give permission for our nanny NAME OF NANNY OR CAREGIVER to take NAME OF CHILD to any medical emergency facility in the absence of our presence. We can be reached at xxx-xxx-xxxx.
Sincerely yours,
NAME OF PARENT
NOTORIZE if you can
Attached to letter should be a copy of baby’s insurance card and list of any of the baby’s pertinent medical issues. (Example allergies, medication, etc.)
DISCLAIMER
The information and content provided on this website is for informational purposes only. Any advice or information provided on this website does not create a professional relationship, is not an aid to making medical decisions, and is not marketed, promoted or otherwise intended to be used to diagnose any disease or other condition, or to cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent any disease. This website is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice or persuade readers in any one particular direction. The information on this website is made available with the understanding that the content and service providers are not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological or any other kind of personal professional services through this website. Nothing on this website is intended to replace the advice of a health care professional, medical diagnosis or treatment. The information provided by Yummy Mummy is intended to educate and help mothers find information and services that they might need. Any action taken by a user in response to information obtained from this website is at the user’s discretion. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.