CPR,
or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, can save somebody’s life. You usually perform
CPR on somebody when they can’t breathe or when their heart stops beating. The
typical people that know CPR are professionals, such as firefighters, police
officers, nurses, paramedics and doctors. These types of people deal with
situations everyday that requires them to revive somebody who can’t breathe.
So, why don’t more parents know CPR? After all, they will likely run into situations that will require them to revive their child. Children are always getting into situations where they can get hurt. Typical child emergencies that require CPR could be smoke inhalation, allergic reaction to food, choking on an object or nearly drowning. If a parent doesn’t know CPR and their child gets into one of these problems then it is risking the child’s life.
Many people have the mentality of just waiting for the paramedics to arrive instead of performing CPR themselves. The truth is that the longer you wait to perform CPR the less likely it will revive a person. Parents need to act immediately when they see their child is not breathing or else their child will die. Then they will have to live with the guilt for the rest of their lives by knowing that they could have learned one simple skill that could have saved their child.
So, whatever you do don’t end up being a parent like this.
So, why don’t more parents know CPR? After all, they will likely run into situations that will require them to revive their child. Children are always getting into situations where they can get hurt. Typical child emergencies that require CPR could be smoke inhalation, allergic reaction to food, choking on an object or nearly drowning. If a parent doesn’t know CPR and their child gets into one of these problems then it is risking the child’s life.
Many people have the mentality of just waiting for the paramedics to arrive instead of performing CPR themselves. The truth is that the longer you wait to perform CPR the less likely it will revive a person. Parents need to act immediately when they see their child is not breathing or else their child will die. Then they will have to live with the guilt for the rest of their lives by knowing that they could have learned one simple skill that could have saved their child.
So, whatever you do don’t end up being a parent like this.
Make sure you learn CPR before having kids because infants have a much bigger chance of choking to death or losing their breath than older kids do. There is something called SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome that usually kills babies less than one year of age. This is where the baby suddenly dies for no apparent reason. Their heart just stops beating and they have no pulse whatsoever.
Experts say that CPR may be able to bring some babies out of this, although there is no definite scientific data to back this up. But don’t forget, babies can run into a number of other situations where CPR can help. After all, babies have smaller lungs, which mean they can choke and suffocate a lot easier.
Parents need to be ready to handle these kinds of emergencies throughout their child’s infancy stage and beyond. All it takes is a few lessons at your local Red Cross and you can be a life saver to your child for the rest of their childhood. You don’t have to be a medical expert to learn it either. You just have to be somebody with a little common sense and a willingness to learn.
Infographic by ACLS
Medical Training
