Being a parent comes with an undeniable level of responsibility when the safety and well-being of their child are at stake. Accidents do occur, so it’s helpful to possess a comprehensive understanding and learn basic CPR for parents. Knowing your loved ones are safe gives you peace of mind and is the main reason you want to acquire fundamental CPR skills.
It only takes a few days to master the CPR technique because it is a simple and relatively straightforward technique. The CPR technique for children and adults differs significantly. That’s why you should get certified in a course specifically designed for infants and children.
Why is CPR for Parents Important?
Learning CPR will help avoid panic during an emergency when parents don’t know what to do. Attending a CPR course and getting certified will give you the confidence to act fast and provide the needed help.
Sudden cardiac arrest is rare among the young population, but it doesn’t mean it cannot happen. Here are some reasons why parents should get CPR certified:
- Making informed decisions: Parents can recognize signs of cardiac arrest or any other health condition and ensure the child receives appropriate care.
- Early intervention: Time is of the essence during an emergency and can make a difference in saving a life. Prompt and effective intervention can prevent further harm to the child.
- Confidence: A parent who is CPR certified has the confidence to handle the situation appropriately and seek professional help when needed.
- Emotional and community support: Parents trained in CPR can provide emotional support to their child and family members to surpass the situation. They can also assist during emergencies that may occur in the community.
Potential CPR Emergencies for Infants and Children
Parents of children suffering from any medical condition know the importance of being certified in first aid and CPR. Attending CPR courses will equip you with the knowledge of what your child or infant needs during an emergency. Here are some of the most common emergencies associated with giving a child CPR where the parents’ immediate reaction is required.
Choking, Smoke Inhalation, and Suffocating
Choking is possible with small children. During suffocation, smoke inhalation, or choking, a child can lose consciousness and experience airway blockage. The flow of blood and oxygen through the body is disturbed, and CPR is needed to restore it.
Drowning
Most drowning accidents happen in children between the ages of 1 and 4. These accidents mostly occur in swimming pools if children are left unsupervised. Statistics show a 38% decrease in drowning cases in the past two decades, but unintentional drowning is still a potential threat to parents.
Cardiac Arrest Emergencies
Congenital heart abnormalities are common in children and are one of the many reasons parents should get CPR certified. Being prepared during an emergency is a must, and CPR courses can help you get insight into cardiac arrest emergencies that can occur in children.
The most common cardiac arrest causes in children include traumatic experiences, respiratory failures, severe infections, and other cardiac occurrences.
Anaphylaxis
Severe allergic reactions, or anaphylaxis, occurs in 1 out of 20 people. Out of these, 40% are children who suffer a severe reaction due to a food allergy. CPR training is useful in recognizing severe allergic reactions that are common among children and require immediate attention.
How Do Infant and Child CPR Differ from Adult CPR?
It’s well-known that CPR is a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths provided to people suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. Many don’t know that the adult CPR technique differs from that intended for children and infants.
A standard or adult CPR procedure requires giving 30 chest compressions to an adult during a cardiac arrest emergency. These compressions are followed by 2 rescue breaths lasting 2 seconds. When giving CPR to a child, be careful with the depth compressions. They should be between 2 and 2.5 inches deep.
The CPR procedure also differs slightly when an infant is concerned. Instead of using your hands like you would for normal CPR, here you need to use your thumbs to deliver the chest compressions. The depth is around 1.5 inches, and the rescue breath should not last more than one second.
Why Learn How to Use an AED?
AED is often an essential medical device used during a cardiac arrest emergency. It checks the heart’s electrical activity and instructs the AED user whether the victim needs an electric shock.
As the CPR technique differs for adults and children, parents should also know how to use AEDs on infants and children of different ages. When attending an AED certification class, you will be taught to pay attention to the age and weight of the child and always use pediatric pads and setting on children below the age of 8.
What Parents Learn During CPR Classes?
Research was done to determine the CPR and first aid knowledge parents possess and whether they would be willing to get further training. The results showed that 77.3% of the parents were interested in further CPR and first aid training.
Many parents with children suffering from cardiovascular anomalies enroll in CPR classes to learn how to react promptly in a given situation. These courses offer knowledge on recognizing and providing high-quality CPR to children and infants. Parents will learn when to administer CPR and when is the proper time to use an automatic external defibrillator.
Attending a CPR class for children and infants, and getting certification, should also be a must for child caretakers and nannies. Considering they are first in line during an emergency, knowing what to do will really help.
Finding the Right CPR Class in Kansas City
Before enrolling in a CPR class, searching for a reliable and licensed training center nearby is important. The most widely accepted certifications are issued by training centers that the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association authorize. The courses of these training centers are also designed following the AHA CPR guidelines.
Choosing the right course for your needs may be challenging, considering the abundance of courses you can find online. To learn the specifics of the techniques you’ll need to help your child, taking the child and baby CPR and AED courses is recommended. Otherwise, you can select the basic Pediatric CPR and AED courses.
If you are searching for a nanny for your child, ensure they have the right Pediatric CPR certification. Emergencies happen when children are involved, and they should know how to handle a risky situation like sudden cardiac arrest, choking, or suffocation. Parents should be able to relax knowing their child is in safe hands.
Is CPR Recertification Required?
You can enroll in an online, in-person, or blended learning CPR course with a reliable training center. Know that the online classes cover only the theoretical part of the course. The practical CPR skills are done in person in the presence of a trained and licensed instructor. Once you take and pass the testing, your CPR certification is valid for the next two years, after which you must get recertified. The recertification process is shorter and simpler, so this should not present a problem.
Many protest about getting recertified every two years, not seeing the need for this. You may need to learn about many new and improved medical techniques and discoveries in the field of CPR. By getting recertified, you’ll learn about any novelties and upgrades in the methods.
For example, mouth-to-mouth is no longer advised to prevent the spreading of viruses and other infections. The American Heart Association now recommends using hands-only CPR and skipping the rescue breathing.
You probably would not know this if you don’t use CPR regularly. That is why attending CPR recertification and renewal courses in Kansas City is always welcomed.
Final Thoughts
Being a parent means always being prepared for every emergency situation that may occur with your child. Learning how to help your child in a critical moment requires attending classes on CPR for parents. Knowing your loved ones are safe is always a priority. The CPR classes will provide you with the knowledge to have confidence and react quickly when a child’s life is endangered. At the same time, knowing CPR will make you an asset in the community because you can be an asset in the out-of-hospital chain of survival.