CPR training for babysitters
Babies are probably the last victims of heart problems you might imagine. Sadly, it happens often enough along with other breathing issues. In such cases, it’s important to know how to perform cardiac resuscitation (or CPR) on babies. It’s especially crucial in jobs that involve small children. Considering that babies are fragile beings, you want to resuscitate them without harming the bones or organs. That’s exactly what babysitter CPR training teaches. For professions such as babysitting or running a daycare, such courses are a must-have.
Where do I train?
All the American CPR trainings teach baby CPR. So, if you aim to start babysitting, you might want to take one. You should know that even if you’ve learned to resuscitate adults, it’s not the same for children of such young age. You don’t want to press your whole fist into their chest. Instead, you use thumbs to perform the procedure for babies up to 3 years and open palms for older children. Moreover, you should not forget that you’ll also have to assess their condition first and call the ambulance.
Brief instructions
Just so you understand why it’s important to practice cardiac massage of this sort with professionals and proper equipment, here’s a quick medical course of what you’d need to do if you saw an unconscious or apparently not breathing baby you were entrusted to look after. First, listen to their heartbeat and breathing. If both are problematic or non-existent, start resuscitation immediately. If you can’t identify if there is a problem, you should try waking up the child – shout their name and tap their leg very lightly, but don’t shake or hit the baby. For other methods, visit CPR training in Boston.
If the baby didn’t wake up, it’s another sign that you have to massage their heart. Before you do that, dial 911 and tell them what you see. Don’t call the parents afterward because you only have a limited amount of time. You need to focus on the child’s chest and arrange the hands into a special position, as per CPR training:
- If it’s a baby, place both thumbs opposite each other onto their chest. Use the other fingers to enfold their body (for support).
- If it’s an older child, place the palm onto the child’s chest. Lift the fingers slightly and use the palm’s heel to perform the procedure. Place the other hand on the child’s head and hold it upright.
After placing the hands into a correct position, begin chest compressions. You want to compress it lightly and at a stable rhythm of no more than 2 taps per second. If done correctly and in a timely manner, this procedure should wake up the baby or at least improve their condition. The main purpose is to provide life support until the professionals arrive to provide help. Without a correct routine taught at your local CPR trainings, however, the chances of survival diminish for the suffering baby. Thus, training is paramount for professionals working with children.
Train at Saving Hands
Saving Hands is a first aid school that offers classes on CPR, BLS, and other basic medical procedures. It’s not just more effective and reasonable to learn these skills under professional guidance. You can also gain more insights and small tidbits in the local CPR & BLS training classes. If that interests you, it’s possible to sign up for such classes on SavingHands.net, the school’s official website. Just select the correct course in the header menu, pick the best time, and attend when convenient for you. You can even receive a certificate of medical courses completion for future reference.
