Comments on: How Well Do You Know CPR?

By: Do you think you’d remember all your first aid training in an emergency?

Do you think you’d remember all your first aid training in an emergency? — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:07:19 +0000

[...] couple of years ago I had a terrible scare when my then 2 year old Julia slipped under the water in a backyard kids pool while I was only inches away. Thankfully, although my head was turned and I [...]

By: Paramedic Seeks to Save Lives with Free Training | ProCPR Blog

Paramedic Seeks to Save Lives with Free Training | ProCPR Blog — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:04:53 +0000

[...] also have a story from a year prior called How Well Do You Know CPR? that details a scare that one of the writers had. She talks about how she wants to know more than [...]

By: Have you ever had to use CPR?

Have you ever had to use CPR? — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:01:25 +0000

[...] Last summer I had a sickening reminder of the importance of CPR skills. [...]

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:24:46 +0000

Hugs to you. You are not the most irresponsible mother in the world. You are human. Accidents happen. Thank God that she’s ok.

You don’t want to learn CPR from a video. It’s the kind of thing where you need an actual person to actually show you what to do. Take the time to take a class. In my town, the same group that does pre-childbirth classes does infant/child CPR. The Red Cross also does classes.

I had to do the Heimlich maneuver on a kid who was choking on a hot dog at the school where I worked. It was TERRIFYING, but it worked, and he was just fine. Since then, I’ve done it several dozen times on my older daughter, who had some sort of anatomical weirdness that resulted in her choking all the time when she was a baby. She has since outgrown it, thank God.

You know, you may be able to get a group together (your family, your playgroup, etc.) and have the Red Cross come out and teach you. Call your local office and see what the options are.

Love to you,
Amy @ http://prettybabies.blogspot.com

By: Tragedy in the Blogosphere

Tragedy in the Blogosphere — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:39:50 +0000

[...] year, Susan had a scare with Julia. Even with Susan in the pool with Julia and holding on to her, Susan got distracted by a [...]

By: Peter Weisberg

Peter Weisberg — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:20:06 +0000

Jenn, everyone, this all very awful. The same thing happened to us with our 5 year old Zoe with choking. What did we do? We struggled with the Heimlich Maneuver and after a few terrifying seconds, the food popped out. But we’ve done something more which I need to shamelessly plug.

My wife and her friend created Safety Magnets (www.SafetyMagnets.com). Safety Magnets™ are 5″ x 7″ refrigerator magnets that list first aid steps on what to do in common medical emergencies (like CPR, Choking, Burns, and Poisoining). Safety Magnets™ are a must have for all caregivers including new moms and dads, teachers, day care providers, the elderly and baby sitters. Stop looking in the junk drawer for that misplaced CPR manual — try a Safety Magnet and be prepared!!!

By: Nan

Nan — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 18:01:11 +0000

What a great website! Thanks for sharing your experience with your viewers, it really brings home the importance of knowing CPR and some basic first aid. There are a lot of options for taking CPR classes through community programs, hospitals and private organizations. The key to being able to act during an emergency is hands-on practice with a manikin and an instructor and reviewing the material frequently.

For those busy moms, a blended learning course combining online learning and hands-on skills may be a perfect fit. We offer this type of training at http://www.actionedu.com. We recommend taking a course at least every 2 years. CPR steps have changed over the years so if you haven’t taken a class recently, do it today.

Also, you can listen to the CPR steps on your computer at http://www.learnCPRpodcast.com or on iTunes.

Don’t be afraid to take a class. The steps have become very simplified and a good instructor will coach you through the class and allow you to practice until you feel comfortable. Don’t forget the 911 operators will also walk you through it during an emergency.

Hope this helps.

By: April

April — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 04:33:12 +0000

I have taken several First Aid and CPR classes, since I have worked for several years in Child Care, and the best one that I have ever taken, was given by a fireman, who taught the class on the side. None of the other classes made it to where it was interesting enough for the information to stick, but this one was great! I didn’t even like the one that I had taken years before at the hospital! I suggest calling the Fire Dept.

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 02:59:37 +0000

Sorry you had to go through this…call your local fire dept..they will do a class for you.

By: onemotherslove

onemotherslove — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:18:49 +0000

Oh, my goodness... my heartbeat quickened as I was afraid of how your post was going to end! I'm so glad she's ok! Feel free to delete this if you think it's spam, but I don't intend it to be -I am a distributor for a product called CPR Teddy. I sell it through my eBay store. I also have a CPR Teddy Blog about it. It's basically an infant practice manikin, but it's a teddy bear. Comes with a video, pocket reminder card and (if you sign up for it) the company will send you a quarterly reminder to practice your CPR skills. CPR Teddy is not intended to replace a class, but is helpful in continually reviewing your skills at home, for those who don't have a manikin. And he's really cute & cuddly... : )

By: Jenn K

Jenn K — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:32:58 +0000

I had to learn before i could take my Preemie son home from the NICU. We learned with a CPR Specialist and with a video. We would watch the video then she would talk about what we watched and answered any questions. After the video was over we were asked to show what we learned on a CPR baby. It was the most nerve wracking thing. I felt so much better about taking my son home with me.I would definitely find someone to help you. It was nice to have an actual person there to help answer questions and show you how EXACTLY to do it.

By: Saph -Walk With Me

Saph -Walk With Me — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:11:57 +0000

You are definitely not the worst mom in the world. I’ve been there done that and it is just that easy for them to end up face down in the water. My daughter was just over a year when we went to the community kiddie pool which only had water a few inches high. I got distracted with another child and when I turned back to my daughter, she was face down in the water. She was of course fine but it just shows that even in a few inches of water and a few seconds, it could’ve turned out worse. I took CPR/First aid in college but haven’t taken a refresher course since. I was going to look at our local Red Cross for classes. Try looking there as many others have suggested.
I’m so glad Julia is okay.

By: Celeste

Celeste — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:49:48 +0000

I took a CRP class at the Red Cross. It was a 2 day course not a 1 day. I have since taken advanced CRP classes and have taken medical provider CPR classes. Sign up with a real person. Try for a small class so you can get close attention from teacher. I have used my training in hospital situations and on the streets. I have done CPR at least 6 times while not in a hospital(at wrecks and other times…..once on a baby pig)

By: blondeblogger

blondeblogger — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:21:06 +0000

I think few realize how fast a drowning can occur, and even with the most vigilant parent watching. It’s not like the movies, where the child flails and calls for help. Most people don’t notice when a child is drowning right next to them.

I know I emailed you about this, but wanted to share it with everyone else. My husband thought he was watching our son when we were on vacation, but it turned out to be another little boy that looked just like him. So he rushed to me to see if I had Matthew with me. I didn’t.

I started scanning the very large pool looking for him and found him drowning in the deep end. He couldn’t get his head above the water and was just..drowning.

No one around him noticed. There were tons of people there playing in the pool. I dove in, pulled him out and he ended up coughing up water and was okay. All I could think was what if it had been just another minute before my husband realized he was missing.

In addition to CPR skills, I think it’s important for parents to realize that kids look like they’re playing when they’re actually drowning. I not only keep an eye out for my own kids now, I try to be very aware of the kids playing around them to make sure they’re coming up for air.

Thanks for posting this. It’s so very important.

By: Shera

Shera — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:27:36 +0000

I was able to do a one-on-one refresher CPR session when our twins were in the NICU and Hubby has to have a current CPR card at all times as a part of his employment. I have to say though that I too struggle with feeling completely capable if something were to happen.

Sure we’ve had our share of scares with the boys, but never anything truly serious. I really do appreciate you sharing your story and reminding me once again how important this is as a mom! I will definitely be approaching the leaders I know of local mom groups and remind them that it’s a great idea to offer this for their group to participate in!

Meanwhile ((hugs)) to you for your scary ordeal!