It’s National CPR Awareness Week

Do you know how to perform CPR on your infant or child? You should.

As moms it’s our biggest fear. Well, one of many. It is scary, but many moms believe it can’t happen to them or think that calling 911 for help is the answer. Yes, it can happen to you and yes, you should call 911. But, there are steps you can do to help save the life of a loved one before emergency responders arrive.

Why should I learn CPR?

According to the American Heart Association, effective bystander CPR can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival, but only 32 percent of victims receive CPR from a bystander. With approximately 300,000 out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests occurring each year (80 percent of which occur at home), the life you save is most likely to be someone you love.

2012 CPR Awareness Week
2012 CPR Awareness Week

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is a lifesaving procedure that is done when someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. For infants and children this may happen after drowning, suffocation, choking, or other injuries. CPR involves:

• Rescue breathing, which provides oxygen to the lungs; and

• Chest compressions, which keep the blood flowing.

Permanent brain damage or death can occur within minutes if blood flow stops.

How can I learn CPR?

This week, June 3-7, is National CPR Awareness week. So now is the time to learn how to respond to if you need to. And, the good news for busy moms is that the American Heart Association and the Louisiana Children’s Museum have partnered to help parents learn hands-only CPR for children and infants.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 4, from 11:00am – 1:00pm at the Louisiana Children’s Museum, certified CPR instructors will be on site giving demonstrations in 2 minutes or less. While this won’t get you certified in CPR, this will get you the knowledge you need to be able to help in crisis situations. Come out for a play day and arm yourself with a lifesaving tool that you hope you’ll never need but will be glad you have.

In addition to CPR, “hands-only CPR” is the latest approved response from the American Heart Association. It consists of chest compressions to help keep blood flowing to the brain to prevent brain damage.

The American Heart Association has endorsed Hands-Only CPR as an effective treatment. Hands-Only CPR involves two simple steps:

1. Call 9-1-1

2. Push hard and fast on the center of the chest until professional help arrives.

Be ready at any time by having CPR instructions at your fingertips. Download the CPR apps by the American Heart Association available for free in the app store or take a local class to become certified. If you don’t have the time to make it to an in-person class, don’t worry. The American Heart Association offers online courses as well perfect for busy moms.

Do you know CPR?

1 COMMENT

  1. This is a great reminder linzy! thanks for the link to the videos- I definitely need a refresher since I haven’t been re-certified since college.

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