CPR IS NO JOKE

So a mouse walks into a bar. 

No. That's not the one. Let me start again. 

Q: How does a mouse resuscitate his friend? 

A: By giving him mouse to mouse! 

*****

Josh Bowman, Aquatics Director at Yates Family YMCA, was our guest speaker today. He had some great information on general safety and first aid, and then he did some demonstrations of infant and adult CPR and choking procedures for children and adults. 

His handouts had some great information, so be sure to pick one up at the next meeting or ask Lucy if you weren't there today.

Joking aside, this blog post, or even what we learned at the meeting, cannot replace real CPR and first aid training, but I do want to highlight some of the tips we discussed today. 

Also, if your baby looks like this, you have bigger problems than we can solve here. :)

Sorry- back to the tips. 

First we talked about safety and first aid. 

*In addition to baby proofing, make sure your babysitters are aware of potential hazards in your home. You may know the danger your child is capable of getting into, but unfamiliar caretakers may not. 

*Keep all cleaning supplies locked and out of reach. A new danger you might not be aware of is the small detergent packets, both for dishwashers and laundry. They are small and candy-like, but very toxic. 

*A number to know: 1-800-222-1222/ Poison Control.

*Have a safety plan, and make sure your children know the plan. How will we get out in case of fire? Where will we meet up in case of natural disaster? 

*Make sure caretakers also know the plan. 

*If you come up with a way to share that with a sitter that doesn't make you sound totally crazy, please share with the group. 

Then we talked about CPR. This is what you need to know.

We also talked about choking, which is particularly a problem with small children. 

Rule #1: When giving back blows, do not break your child.

Or just do this:

*Do not attempt to remove an obstruction unless you can clearly see it. 

*If a woman is visibly pregnant, use chest thrusts instead of belly thrusts. 

*If the victim is able to cough or cry, encourage them to cough but do not intervene. 

We also talked about water safety and the need to always have a designated person watching children in the water, even in places where there is a lifeguard. Swim lessons are highly recommended.

And there you have it! If you have further questions, Josh Bowman can be reached via email at jbowman@firstcoastymca.org.