CPR and choking emergencies

Create two scenarios: one in which a child is choking and another in which a child needs CPR. In each of your scenarios, include who is involved and where it is occurring (for example, a 5-year-old in a preschool setting has stopped breathing and is apparently choking on a piece of food). Then outline the proper emergency procedures for dealing with each situation 

            In this scenario, a small 6-year-old child had stopped breathing after eating peanut butter that was on the dining table after the family had finished breakfast. In this case, the choking emergency situation must be as a result of an allergic reaction to food in this case the peanut butter (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1983). The allergic reaction caused the child’s airway to be blocked, which made him unable to speak, cough or cry. In such an emergency scenario, it is highly advisable to call 911 if you suspect that a child’s airway is blocked before starting to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Corporation, 1990).

When performing CPR, place the child swiftly but gentle on his back on a flat surface that is firm. Using one hand, open his airway by tilting the head of the child back and slightly lifting his chin with the other hand. Check whether the child is showing any signs of breathing by putting your head close to his mouth while looking towards his feet to see if the chest is rising. If the child is not showing any signs of breathing, pinch his nose shut, put your mouth over his and exhale into his lungs until his chest rises. Kneel close to his chest, place one of your hands’ heels on the child’s breastbone and perform a chest compression allowing the chest to return to its normal position before performing another chest compression. Perform the chest compressions at a rate of 100 compressions per minute while allowing the child rescue breaths after every chest compression. Continue performing chest compressions and rescue breaths until the doctors arrive (National Safety Council, 1998).

Summarize why advance planning is often the best way to respond to or prevent an emergency situation and the kinds of training (e.g., CPR or first aid training) you believe are needed in order to prevent or positively resolve such emergencies.

            Choking and suffocation causing airway obstructions among children have been identified as the main causes of unintentional injuries or death in children.  Advanced planning stands as the effective way to prevent choking emergency situation among children because it enables the identification and removal of factors or circumstances causing emergency situations food allergies, toys, coins, strangulation from strings and plastic bags suffocation (Townson & McKee, 1985). Advanced planning helps to identifying the appropriate procedure to handle each emergency situation (Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Corporation, 1990).  It is important that parents educate themselves on child safety and emergency management skills. With reference to choking, it is important for parents to be able to perform basic first aid and CPR to effectively manage such emergency situations (Townson & McKee, 1985). Parents or caregivers should train themselves on infant or child choking first aid and conducting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the event of a choking emergency from various training institution such as Red Cross, St. John Ambulance or local Heart and Stroke Foundation offices (Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Corporation, 1990).

Describe any other steps adults must take to ensure they are prepared to handle these kinds of crises, including such information as first aid supplies, family emergency contact information, and so on.

            There are various ways that parent and caregivers can follow to ensure that they minimize the occurrence of these emergency situations or are effectively prepare to manage a given crises when it occurs. Parents should avoid buying toys that have strings longer than 20 cm. When placing infants to sleep, it is advisable to place them on their back to avoid suffocation. However, supervision of children at all time is the best strategy that can effectively ensure that choking emergency situations avoided (Walker, 1996). It is important for parents to discourage older children feeding their younger siblings to avoid choking through food or allergic reaction (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1983). Storage of older children’s toys far from the reach of younger children is another step to avoid choking situations. Parents and caregivers should educate their children on table manners by encouraging them to remain seated when eating, not talking with food still in the mouth, not running while eating, and chewing food well before swallowing (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1983). For day care professionals, maintaining a child’s family contact is important to inform the parents about the condition of their children in case a child has been admitted in a hospital following an emergency situation at the day care facility (Walker, 1996). Other emergency numbers, which are important for parents or daycare professionals to have include emergency hotlines such as American Red Cross and the nearest hospital’s contact for an ambulance dispatch in the event of an emergency situation involving choking (Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Corporation, 1990).

Reference

Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Corporation (N.Z.). (1990).Suffocation and             choking in young children. Auckland, N.Z.?: Accident Rehabilitation & Compensation           Insurance Corp

American Academy of Pediatrics. (1983). Foods and choking in children. Evanston, Ill:    American Academy of Pediatrics.  

National Safety Council. (1998). First aid and CPR: Infants and children. Boston, Mass: Jones     and Bartlett Publishers.  

Townson, H., & McKee, D. (1985). The choking peril. London: Andersen. 

Walker, B. L. (1996). Injury prevention for young children: A research guide. Westport, Conn:      Greenwood Press.