Safety First...Part 2: Emergency Recognition

In part one of Safety First, I discussed being prepared for an emergency. For example, if your child was choking or became unresponsive, would you or your child know what to do. If something happened to you at home, does your child know how to call 911 or when to do so? I want to go into a little more detail so that you feel a bit more comfortable should an emergency arise. This advice is not a substitute for you and your family becoming CPR certified. Let’s talk about preparedness and teaching your child about emergencies.

Recognition

As a CPR instructor, recognition of distress is extremely important. The faster you recognize that someone is in distress, the faster you can bring aid to the person in need. General signs of distress (cardiac or respiratory) include:

• Not breathing (look for the rise and fall of the chest)

• Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath

• Loss of consciousness

• Chest pain

• Fatigue

• Dizziness

• Lightheaded

• Feeling faint

• Choking

• Excessive bleeding

This is not an exhaustive list. These symptoms should be taken seriously and can lead to a serious situation if not recognized in a timely manner. Depending on the age of your child, these are symptoms they need to be taught how to look for and be able to call 911.

If you or your child has a medical condition and you need special medication, they should know where it is and how to use it. For example, if you have a severe allergy and have been prescribed an Epinephrine Pen (EpiPen), everyone including your child should know where it is and how to use it. If your child has asthma, they should know where their inhaler is and how to use it.

Practice

If you have young children, practice is essential. Of course, I am coming from a medical background and practice is essential in my career field. Practicing procedures, especially if you have a preexisting condition, is imperative.

Children love to role play and pretend. Use scenarios they can understand and be clear. Using their dolls or action figures can help them understand and be able to act when the time comes.

They also need to practice using your phone. Of course, we don’t want them to practice calling 911 on your phone, but they can practice on their play phone. Role play is such a fun and low pressure way to prepare them to respond to an emergency, if needed.

First Aid Necessities

Preparation is key whether at home or on the go. Here are a few items every household needs to help assist someone experiencing an emergency.

First Aid Essentials

Encouragement

Taking a CPR and first aid course is very important! Making sure you and your family are ready for an emergency is vital. When possible, children should know how to respond in an emergency especially since you are normally home with them at a young age. Those who watch your children should be CPR certified or at least familiar with life saving techniques. Parents, we are training our children to be adults and this is part of the training. Let’s be prepared as much as possible. Remember as always, YOU GOT THIS.