Happy Halloween! (Safety Tips)

Halloween is an exciting time of year for your little ghosts and goblins! Fun costumes, parties at school and lots of tasty treats!

To keep safety top of mind for tonight’s trick-or-treating, here are links to the best websites for Halloween safety tips:

CBC News
Canadian Red Cross
Health Canada
Toronto District School Board
Young Drivers of Canada

Happy Haunting!

There’s no better time to refresh your lifesaving skills. Contact us directly to set up an in-home, in-studio or in-office session today!

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First Aid Super Tip #3

If you ever had to use an epinephrine auto injector (EpiPen or TwinJect) on a victim who is having a serve allergic reaction, it can test your ability to stay calm, but rest assured that it is very simple to administer.

1. Pull off safety cap.
2. Grip the auto injector firmly & jab into the side of the victim’s thigh (hold for 10 seconds).
3. Call 911 and reassure the victim.

Today’s First Aid Super Tip has to do with how to grip the auto injector correctly. GRIP IT LIKE A TODDLER COLOURING WITH A MARKER. Your entire fist and thumb should be around the injector and not touching either end. It is far too easy to accidentally inject yourself if your thumb is bracing the injector at the wrong end.

Remember to be calm, be confident and think common sense!

There’s no better time to refresh your lifesaving skills. Contact us directly to set up an in-home, in-studio or in-office session today!

The Undeading

The Heart and Stroke Foundation has done it again! Throughout the month of October they have been promoting hands-only CPR through creative and “frightening” means, as zombies take over Toronto! “The Undeading” campaign has seen flash mobs in Dundas Square, zombie walks, and hands-only CPR training for everyone. It will all culminate at Canada’s Wonderland on October 25th, 2012 in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most number of people trained in CPR at one time.

Show your support by watching the eerie campaign video, supporting them on social media (#TheUndeading) and buying your discounted tickets to Canada’s Wonderland for the evening of October 25th. Let’s help the Heart and Stroke Foundation break this world record and learn how to “undead” for ourselves!

Be calm, be confident and think common sense!

There’s no better time to refresh your “undeading” skills in a cozy, non-zombie filled environment. Contact us directly to set up an in-home, in-studio or in-office session today!

Expert Guest Post: Top 10 Tips for a Safe & Healthy Pregnancy

Today’s guest post is from a fantastic Certified Childbirth Educator and Labour Doula, Effie Pallotta. Here are Effie’s top ten tips for a safe and healthy pregnancy and a positive birth and postpartum experience.

Having a Baby?

Pregnancy and the birth of your child will be one of the most memorable and life changing experiences that you will ever have.  Although having a baby can be a wonderful experience it can also be a time of uncertainty as you try to sort through the wealth of information and advice from friends, family and media.  If planning to get pregnant, or as soon as you find out you are pregnant, you should do the following ten things for a safe and healthy pregnancy and a positive birth and postpartum experience.

1. Get prenatal care – Your family doctor can provide you with prenatal care until you decide whether you want to have an obstetrician or midwife as your primary caregiver for the rest of your pregnancy and the birth of your baby.  You will also have to choose if you would like to give birth at home or in a hospital.  Both these options are fully covered by your Ontario Health Insurance.  http://www.ontariomidwives.ca/   http://www.sogc.org/index_e.asp
2. Take folic acid and a maternal multi-vitamin – Ask your caregiver about taking folic acid and a maternal multivitamin.  Folic acid plays an important role in the development of your unborn baby.  http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fa-af/index-eng.php
3. Make healthy food choices – Follow Canada’s Food Guide and do not eat raw or unpasteurized foods.  http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/choose-choix/advice-conseil/women-femmes-eng.php   http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/food-aliment/pregnant-enceintes-eng.php
4. Exercise – Ask you doctor/midwife before starting a new exercise routine or changing your physical activity level.  If you find yourself heating up, take a break and drink plenty of water.  Physical activity such as walking, swimming, prenatal yoga and prenatal exercise classes can help increase muscle strength, tone, flexibility and endurance.  This may be very helpful for labour and birth and can also help to improve your mood, reduce stress and promote better sleep during pregnancy.  http://www.toronto.ca/health/pa_index.htm#006
5. Avoid dangerous substances– Reduce caffeine, avoid alcohol, smoke, mercury (found in some fish), cat litter (cat feces may play host to a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis) and do not take any drugs (even over-the-counter ones) or herbal remedies/teas unless you have consulted with your doctor/midwife first.  Remember that the fumes from some cleaning products and paints may be unsafe during pregnancy.  http://www.motherisk.org/women/index.jsp   http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Environmental-Toxins-During-Pregnancy
6. Visit your dentist– Have an oral exam as early as possible in your pregnancy and let your dentist know that you are pregnant and when your baby is due.  Brush and floss with extra care and, if brushing your teeth makes you nauseous, try fluoride free toothpaste.  http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/oral-health-pregnancy
7. Reduce stress – Rest, practice relaxation techniques, surround yourself with supportive people, scale back on work and, if need be, seek counseling.  http://www.toronto.ca/health/pregnancy/depression/during_pregnancy.htm
8. Chiropractic care and massage therapy – Chiropractic care and massage therapy can help maintain a healthier pregnancy, improve labor outcomes and newborn health.  Chiropractic care can not only relieve nausea, aches and pains but can maintain or improve balance and alignment in your spine and pelvis.  This can help your baby assume optimal positioning for birth, reducing the chance of a breech baby.  A registered massage therapist can help reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, reduce swelling and relieve muscle aches and joint pains.  http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/chiropracticcare.html http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/prenatalmassage.html
9. Build your support team for labour, birth and the postpartum – Research shows that women who are supported in labour reduce the risks associated with medical interventions, have more positive birth experiences and have less postpartum depression.  Discuss your labour, birth and postpartum wishes with your partner and your caregiver and consider hiring a doula or, if delivering in a hospital, choose a hospital that has a doula program as your birth setting.  Join a breastfeeding group like your local La Leche League and ask family and friends for help when you need it, before and/or after baby is born.  http://www.dona.org/mothers/why_use_a_doula.php  http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10174
10. Sign up for a childbirth education (prenatal) class – For many first time expectant parents, labour, birth and newborn care is faced with anxiety.  Prenatal classes reduce fear of the unknown by providing information and practical skills to help expectant parents make informed decisions about birth and parenting.  Whatever the birth plan, good Childbirth Education Classes provide parents with labour support techniques and coping skills to manage pain, and knowledge to instill confidence in their ability to birth and care for their newborn baby.  http://www.newlifeprenatal.org/

Effie Pallotta, BComm, CCE, LD
New Life Prenatal Classes