HAVING to perform CPR on your child is a moment every parent prays never happens.
But according to a former paramedic, delaying starting CPR by just a minute could reduce your child’s chances of survival.
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Therefore, it is crucial to be aware of the key signs that indicate your child needs this life-saving intervention.
“No parent wants to use this skill, but everyone wants the confidence that if they needed to, they certainly could,” Nikki Jurcutz, first responder behind Education of little heartshe said.
“CPR saves lives,” she wrote in a recent post on Instagram.
CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is a life-saving procedure and should be used when a child’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped.
This can happen if your child chokes on food or an object or drowns, suffers a serious head injury, excessive bleeding or electric shock, according to Mount Sinai.
Knowing how to perform CPR can give your baby the best chance of survival.
To identify whether your baby needs CPR, Nikki said you need to keep in mind two warning signs, which she called “two NOTS.”
You need to intervene immediately if your child is:
- Not conscious
- Not breathing normally
Mount Sinai adds that you should also try CPR if your child doesn’t have a pulse.
A helpful way to check if your child is breathing is to look for movement in their chest or belly.
You can poke your child gently to see if he responds to your touch or shake the soles of his feet.
You can even call their name or ask out loud “are you okay?”
If your child doesn’t move or doesn’t make a sound, this could be an important sign that they need CPR.
The NHS recommends that you check your child’s breathing by keeping the airway open and putting your face close to your child’s face and looking along the chest.
You must:
- Look for movement in the chest.
- Listen to the child’s nose and mouth for breathing sounds.
- Feel the movement of air on your cheek
But you should not look, listen or feel for a maximum of 10 seconds, as delaying CPR may decrease your chances of survival.
“Wheezing should not be considered normal breathing,” the NHS noted.
According to Nikki: “For every 60 seconds delay in starting CPR, the survival rate decreased by 10 percent.”
You should not attempt CPR if you respond to your touches or calls by responding or moving.
Instead, leave them in the position you found them in – as long as they are not in danger – and assess what kind of help they need.
You should also not give CPR if your baby is conscious but cannot move, or if he is unconscious but breathing normally, according to the British Heart Foundation.
How to give CPR to your baby
IF you have discovered that your baby is unresponsive and not breathing normally, it is time to begin CPR.
Step 1. Check your breathing
Tilt the baby’s head back and watch the baby’s breathing.
If they are not breathing, go to step two.
Step 2. Tell someone to dial 999
If you are alone, give the rescue breaths and chest compressions described below for one minute, dial 999.
Step 3. Take five rescue breaths
Tilt your baby’s head back, close their mouth and nose, and blow firmly.
Repeat five times.
Step 4. Perform 30 chest compressions
Push firmly in the middle of your baby’s chest with two fingers, then release.
Maintain a regular rate of about two compressions per second.
Repeat 30 times.
Step 5. Take two rescue breaths
Then continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until help arrives.
If your baby shows signs of responding, such as coughing, opening their eyes, making noises, or starting to breathe normally, place them in the recovery position – cradle the baby in your arms, with their head tilted down to avoid choking or inhaling vomit. .
Monitor your level of response and prepare to give CPR again if necessary.
Source: Saint John Ambulance
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