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Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

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Child and Infant Safety
Children are curious by nature, often adventuring out to explore the world around them. Unfortunately, their curious nature can often lead to trouble, resulting in injuries. According to the Government of Canada, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in children. Learning how to recognize, prevent, and respond in the event of an accident or emergency can make all the difference. Read on for information on how to administer first aid in critical child and baby safety situations, such as cardiac arrest, concussions, dehydration, and choking.
Child and Infant CPR
You suddenly hear the panic-stricken scream “HELP!”
You rush next door to find your neighbour her standing at the edge of the pool with her 13 …show more content…

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR for short, is an emergency procedure that combines rescue breaths (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) and chest compressions.
CPR is a vital procedure in the event of cardiac arrest, which is when there is a lack of oxygen to the heart. Cardiac arrest can occur from choking, drowning, suffocation, electrocution, and even life-threatening allergic reactions and poisoning. CPR can increase a child’s chance of survival by helping to keep the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain, heart, and other vital organs until medical help arrives.
5 simple steps to CPR:
1. Place the child or infant on a firm, flat surface
2. Position your hands or fingers on the child’s chest and give 30 compressions; push hard – push fast.
3. Tilt the head back to open the airway
4. Seal the nose and mouth and give two breaths - using just enough air to make the chest rise
5. Continue the cycle of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until help arrives, the person responds, or you physically cannot continue any longer
Depending on the child’s age, the location and method of compressions differs:
• For infants 0-12 months of age, use two fingers on the breastbone just below the nipple line to give …show more content…

St. John Ambulance has a series of child care first aid and CPR courses to accommodate different training needs - both formal and informal.
Concussions in Children
Did you know that falls are the leading cause of injury hospitalization in BC for infants and children between 1 to 9 years of age?
Falls can result in traumatic brain injury and brain damage, and can happen anywhere – whether inside or outside of the home, such as while cycling or climbing on the playground.
What is a Concussion?
A concussion is a common form of head or brain injury caused by a direct or indirect force or hit to the head. Direct force may come about from a jolt or bump to the head during a sporting activity or a car crash. Indirect force can result from an impact to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly backwards and forwards. The brain consequently bounces around and shifts inside the skull, causing damage to brain cells as well as to the brain’s chemical composition. This ultimately affects the brain’s ability to function normally for a temporary period of time, also making the brain highly susceptible to subsequent

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