Infant Choking & CPR Training

Do you know what to do if your infant starts choking and cannot breathe?

That is a very, very scary thought I hope to never experience. My baby is always crawling all over the floor and while we think it's clean, she manages to find the smallest objects to put directly in her mouth! So far she has shoved cat food, a hair clip, paper, and other unidentifiable objects into her mouth. We immediately scoop the object out of her mouth with our finger but it is scary. Once she even started to gag but we are lucky she has never actually choked yet. We make an extra effort to pick up everything on the floor, but she seems to have a better eye than us... being floor level and all.

My friend Candace is a certified nurse assistant and today she showed me some videos from her work trainings related to infant safety. (ProCPR.org) She received certifications through this company. I will paraphrase three important emergency procedures for those with babies in their households. Be sure to watch the video links so you fully understand how to perform them. It is well worth the time spent learning and watching these videos.

Infant CPR
If baby is not breathing, please call 911 immediately!
If baby has no pulse, begin CPR.
Use two fingers on the center of the chest, on the sternum, between the nipple line for 30 compressions followed by giving baby 2 breaths.
Repeat until 911 help arrives.
Please watch the video.

Conscious Infant Choking
Baby is conscious.
Support baby's face, head, and neck, and tilt the baby so the head is lower than the torso.
Slap baby on back, between the shoulder blades 5 times.
Flip baby over and use two fingers to perform 5 chest thrusts.
Repeat back slaps and chest trusts until object is removed or until baby becomes unconscious.
Please watch the video.

Unconscious Infant Choking
Baby is unconscious. Please call 911 immediately!
Use two fingers on the center of the chest, on the sternum, between the nipple line for 30 compressions.
Check for object.
Give baby 2 breaths. If breaths do not go in, reposition airway and attempt 2 more breaths.
Continue 30 compressions, object check, and breaths until object is out and infant is breathing, or until 911 help arrives.
Please watch the video.

Please watch these important videos from ProCPR.org if you are unfamiliar with infant emergency procedures. These videos are free and up to date.

I believe it is extremely important to be trained in CPR and First Aid. Accidents happen all the time. You can never plan on when you will have to perform an emergency procedure to save someone (your baby???)'s life. I planned on doing taking classes during my pregnancy but could never afford the Red Cross trainings. I just discovered you can take safety courses and become certified through ProCPR.org as well. The courses are 100% online and they offer several different training programs that are very affordable. I even have a discount code for anyone who chooses to take a course or two.

My discount-code is CPR-Amelia.

Here are the classes that they offer.
Healthcare Provider (BLS) Adult, Child, and Infant CPR/AED
Workplace Adult, Child, and Infant CPR/AED & First Aid
Bloodborne Pathogen Prevention Training
Workplace Adult-Only CPR/AED and First Aid
Healthcare Provider Adult / Child / Infant CPR/AED (BLS) & First Aid
Awareness Level CPR Course for Students