Guest Article by Dave Burns
"BABIES CPR"
By Dave Burns
As some of you may have noticed, Babies are not built to
the same specifications as adults and children. To begin
with, they are a lot softer, and they seem to have no
necks! This makes the ABC of resuscitation slightly
different.
To begin with, lay the infant on a hard surface that is
within your reach. The floor is a long way down. Use a
table, or sideboard. Open the airway by tilting the head
very slightly back, not as far as you would with an adult.
Check the breathing in the normal way, but be aware that a
baby breathes faster than an adult or child, and you may
not see chest movement.
Hopefully the baby is breathing, if so, instead of laying
them down in the recovery position as you would for an
adult or child, Pick them up and hold them, with the head
slightly lower than the rest of the body, and the back to
your chest.
If there is no breathing present, you need to give some
air. Cover both nose and mouth with your mouth and give a
small puff. (Imagine blowing out a candle). Do this 5
times, not 2 as with adults. Now check for signs of pulse.
Being smaller and softer, using the pulse in the neck can
do damage to a baby, Therefore we check the pulse in the
upper arm. Place the flat of 3 fingers on the inside of the
upper arm, and the thumb on the outside. Using a light
pressure you should then feel the brachial pulse. Is there
a pulse present? Is it more than 60 per min? If yes, carry
on giving air and get help fast. If the pulse is less than
60, assume no pulse and give chest compressions. Again,
there is a difference here. First, the pressure point is
about one finger below the nipple line. Just use 2 fingers,
and depress the chest about 1/3rd of the chest depth five
times then give one breath and continue at 5 compressions
to one breath. (This must be on a firm surface or the
pressure will not go where needed). The chances of
resuscitating a baby successfully are higher than that of
an adult, if you do not panic!
For more information, Call your local Red Cross and ask
about training. You will be surprised at how cheap and easy
it is to learn how to save lives.
DISCLAIMER:
First aid is not a subject that can be learned from books
or articles. To become a true first aider you need to
undertake proper training that will give you the
opportunity to practice in a safe and controlled
environment. Neither I as the author or the World Wide
Information Outlet can or will be held responsible for
anything that happens as a result of this article. Having
said that, when a life is at stake, you should at least
try. Under the 'good samaritan' law, provided your
intention was to do good, nobody can touch you for it!
Brought to you by: World Wide Information Outlet -
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Content online.
I am a Trainer with the British Red Cross. I am currently
based at Shrewsbury, Shropshire in the UK. And have been
training now for 7 years.
Most of the time is fun, but as any trainer will tell you,
it all depends on your class. There is always one that
knows it all, and one who just cannot grasp what you are
saying.
I think that a trainer always needs to keep on top of what
is happening, and adapt their courses to the students
needs. It is also good to meet and chat to other trainers
to get new ideas and perspectives. This is the reason for
this area.
Your ideas and comments would be most welcome.
Email me at dave@burns.enta.net or visit
http://www.burns.enta.net
Copyright 2002, Dave Burns. All rights reserved.
*note from Rachel - Let me reiterate Dave's message. The best way to be prepared
for emergencies is to do the proper first aid training. I am not responsible for
anything that happens as a result of this article and include it in the
GetFrugal.com for informational purposes only. In the long run, getting the proper
training is the most frugal method of all.
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