Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Learn To Save A Life

Recently I had a very frightening experience when my preschooler choked during lunch. Thanks to CPR training courses I took over 15 years ago I was able to perform the Heimlich Maneuver and saved his life.
The Heimlich performed on a conscious child.
If you had asked me prior to this incident if I knew the Heimlich I would have said no, I don't remember much about it, but it's amazing the information you have stored away that comes up during an emergency.

It all happened so fast and it scares me to think of the times I've walked to another room while he was munching on a snack. The whole incident took less than two minutes, but of course during the episode it felt like hours!

Here's a great website full of step by step resources for performing CPR on infants, children and adults. I encourage you to print out copies of the diagrams for CPR and the Heimlich to leave with your baby sitter and post on your refrigerator. It may just save your child's life (or your own)!
FYI: There's also a new method for adult CPR using hands only, no breaths.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Such an important thing for everybody to know! I have also taken a course and years later had to USE the procedure. Scary!

Anonymous said...

So important information!! at that time!! Thank you for sharing!! and Thank God for your child!!

Memories for Life said...

Wonderful tips! Thank you for posting this!!!

TiLT said...

yowsers! It is amazing how things pop back to the surface when needed. So glad to hear that all is well. And thanks for the post - it's a great refresher! Especially now that my 4 year old is in a 'put stuff in my mouth' stage that he skipped when younger.

Starwick Candles said...

wow, thank you for the informative post!

Made by Melissa said...

Thanks for posting these links. I had a scary moment few months ago when my son choked on some fruit. It feels like it was yesterday!

Splendid Little Stars said...

How absolutely frightening beyond expression! A great reminder for all to learn or refresh their CPR skills. I will check those links out.

Shelley Noble said...

How incredible that you were able to save your child. Incredible. Well done, thank goodness.

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