Infant Choking Emergencies

Many of the parents I speak to and work with all have the same #1 first aid fear: choking. Choking emergencies happen suddenly and can be very scary for both the baby and parent involved.

If you are reading this, you already understand the value in first aid training and practicing emergency preparedness skills to empower yourself, but all too often I hear about tragedies resulting from choking emergencies because no one knew what to do. So as a refresher, here are the key points to remember when dealing with an infant first aid choking emergency:

1. If you still hear noise from the baby don’t do anything but encourage coughing. Resist the urge to whack them on the back or bounce them up and down because this can only make things worse.

2. Only when you don’t hear any more noise from the baby (full obstruction of the airway) do you spring into action with alternating back blows and chest compressions. Try to be over a soft surface if you can (couch, bed, etc.) in case your baby is squirming in your arms.

3. As difficult as it is, try not to panic. Stay calm so you can react quickly and effectively if your baby needs you to.

This month’s 1-page Quick Reference Guide is all about infant choking emergencies so click here for the FREE downloadable PDF and post it up on your fridge just in case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When it comes to a first aid emergency… be calm, be confident & use common sense!

 

 

 

Do you know someone who has a new baby or too busy to leave their home to attend a first aid class? At ON-SITE First Aid, we love working with clients in their homes! Contact us to inquire about training options in your own home.

Twitter Saves Lives?

Last week I found this fascinating article about Twitter being used for more than just celebrity gossip and shameless promotion… it’s also saving lives! Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine studied CPR and cardiac arrest-related tweets over a one-month period, tracking tweets relevant to information shared among users, as well as questions asked among users. They found that people in the Twitterverse are asking lots of important prevention and treatment questions, as well as relaying up-to-the-minute information, such as about watching CPR resuscitation happening in front of them.

I find it fascinating that a website with such a stigma and reputation for providing readers with fluff and useless bites of information is being used for such positive and important reasons – disseminating life saving information.

It’s also exciting to hear that small 140 character bites of information are supplementing critical life saving training. I don’t think that virtual or Twitter-esque training will be replacing the hands-on stuff anytime soon, but I’m extremely excited that CPR is more widely understood because of resources like Twitter. I don’t believe that the hands-on training will ever go away because it’s so important to get the feel of CPR on a mannequin and practice walking through scenarios to simulate the real deal. Hands-on training is all about building confidence and it’s amazing to see that quick bites of info via Twitter is helping to sustain skill sets long after the training is over. Refresh, refresh, refresh because you never know when your skills may be called into action.

One of the final points of the study spoke to the fact that not all CPR information shared on the web is accurate. There is a need for first aid education organizations (like ON-SITE!) to provide correct information on the web and participate in real-time discussions with knowledge-hungry users. So a BIG thank you to our Twitter followers for your support as we continue to grow and provide you with lots of interesting first aid tweets!

Be calm, be confident and use common sense!

 

 

 

There’s no better time to refresh your first aid skills. Contact us to hold a session at your office, studio or home!

Giving Back: How We’re Spreading the First Aid Love

At ON-SITE First Aid & CPR Training Group, we pride ourselves on our community involvement and our commitment to helping others. Whether it’s working with the YWCA Teen Mother’s Program to empower new Moms with first aid skills or providing free impromptu CPR training at community events, we love spreading the first aid love!

Now that the holiday season is upon us, we feel the need to give back even more. On behalf of all of our wonderful clients, we have made two donations that are close to our hearts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre and Post-Natal Care for a New Mother

“Having a baby is hard enough. But when you are a woman who’s all alone and impoverished, it can be life-threatening. Help protect a mom with things like prenatal vitamins, delivery kits, and World Vision workshops on new mothering skills and more. You’ll help empower a young mother to care for her baby and herself.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School Supplies for a Classroom

“Reach out to impoverished children with this gift of books, pencils, paper, notebooks, rulers and art supplies that can transform the learning experience for an entire classroom. Because our partner companies have donated supplies, your gift multiplies 15 times in value!”

 
Have a wonderful holiday season! 

We look forward to working with you in the new year!  

 
Yours Truly,

 

 

Diana & the ON-SITE Team

First Aid Professionals: Camilla Szczepkowski

Our First Aid Professionals series is designed to shed light on our community heroes who make saving lives their life’s mission (and who make it look easy)!

Today’s post is from Camilla Szczepkowski who works with us as a First Aid & CPR Instructor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How did you get started in this field?

Swimming competitively throughout my childhood sparked my interest in completing the necessary requirements to become a lifeguard. Working for several years as an lifeguard and instructor had taught me how to recognize respond quickly to first aid emergencies.

 

When did you know that you wanted to do work as a First Aid Instructor?

I knew I wanted to do work as a First Aid Instructor after teaching aquatic courses that introduced basic first aid. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching candidates CPR and what to do in first aid emergencies such as chocking, bleeding, and burns. Their interest and eagerness to learn instigated my passion for teaching first aid.

 

How long have you been a first aid instructor?

I have had the privilege of working as a first aid instructor for three years now. I see myself as a First Aid Instructor for several years to come.

 

What does your job involve on a day-to-day basis?

On a day-to-day basis my job involves commuting to various facilities where first aid courses are provided to the public. I set up the classroom with teaching requirements such as handouts, presentations, first aid kits and manikins. After a successful day I will prepare lesson plans for the following day.

 

What’s your favourite part of the job?

My favourite part of the job is to educate individuals on life saving techniques in fun and interactive ways such as scenarios using make up to show injuries. It is rewarding to know I can make a difference in people’s lives by sharing my knowledge and experiences.

 

What’s your least favourite part of the job?

My least favourite part of the job is when first aid classes come to an end. As an instructor you build a relationship with your candidates and it’s it difficult to watch them leave.

 

What is the best piece of first aid advice you have for parents?

The best piece of advice that I have for parents is to familiarize themselves with basic first aid in the event of an emergency. As parents spend the majority of their time with their children, these skills will prevent and treat common injuries that occur to children.

 

If you wish you could tell the whole world one thing about what you do, what would it be?

If I could tell the whole world one thing about what I do, that would be that I teach first aid. I teach first aid because enjoy sharing my knowledge and making people comfortable in any rescue situation in the future.

 

Be calm, be confident & think common sense!

 

 

 

If you or someone you know would like to be featured in our First Aid Professionals series, please contact us!

There’s no better time to refresh your lifesaving skills. Visit www.onsitefirstaid.ca/register to see our calendar or contact us directly about a session for your organization.

Have you checked out our free ebook for parents yet? Click here to get it!

Parent Interview Series: Giulia Ricci

Our Parent Interview Series enables parents in our community to share their experiences with new and seasoned parents alike so we can all feel more confident caring for our little ones!

 

Today’s post is from Giulia Ricci who I had the pleasure of meeting during one of my Parent-Specific First Aid Sessions. Please enjoy her insight below.    

How old are your children?

3 years old 

What do they get into most?

At this age he is hitting his head a lot or falling 

What’s been your biggest first aid scare?

Choking

 When did you start introducing solids into your child’s diet? How do you prevent a choking emergency?

Close to a year old. I would do soft things first and then items of food that are more solid but in really small pieces. Always supervising. 

Do you have any tips and tricks for keeping your home safe?

We baby/child proofed our house a little bit at a time. As my son got older we would recognize what would be hazards and took care of it. 

What kind of questions do you wish you had been able to ask other parents about your child’s safety?

I did a lot of reading and asked a lot of questions as soon as things would come up. I had a great support system. 

What’s your best piece of advice for brand new parents?

One piece of advice I would give to any parent is if you have never taken a first aid course before, now is the best time to start to educate yourself. You are responsible for this little life and being prepared and creating a safe environment is one of the most important things you can do. 

Additional comments?

As a H.O.M.E. Parent (Hands On Meaningfully Engaged-new term for stay at home moms these days). I want to make sure that I can take care of my family on all levels and first aid is high on the priority list. 

Be calm, be confident & think common sense!

 

 

 

 

If you or someone you know would like to be featured in our Parent Interview Series, please contact us!

 

Have you checked out our free ebook for parents yet? Click here to get it!