CPR and Choking Emergencies

In the first scenario, a child who is four years old is choking on a small toy. The people involved are two teachers and a group of 14 children. As one teacher attends to the other children; making sure that they are calm, the teacher, who is trained in first aid and cpr, attends to the child who is choking.

First, the teacher ask if the child if they can breathe or cough. If they could you should leave them alone if they become unable to breathe or cough then proceed to give subdiaphragmatic abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver). First, place yourself slightly behind the child and place your arms around the child’s waist. Make a fist with one hand and place your thumb toward the child, just above his or her belly button. Then grab your fist with your other hand, delivering five upward squeeze-thrusts into the abdomen. You continue to give these thrust until the object is expelled or the child becomes unconscious. Once, the object is dislodged and expelled reassure the child that they are fine and that everything is going to be okay.

In the second scenario, a five year old from the same group above is in the pool. The same teachers and children are involved as well as a trained lifeguard. Suddenly a 5-year old becomes unresponsive at the side of the pool. While the lifeguard clears all the children of the pool area, a trained teacher attends to the child while the second teacher calls 911. The trained teacher tilts the child’s head and chin back to open the airway and check for breathing. After assessing that there is no breathing, I pinch the nose closed and completely cover the child’s mouth blowing twice so that the chest rises. Then I pump the child’s chest 30 times with the heel of my hand on the lower portion of the sternum and the other hand on top of it keeping the fingers together. If the child has not begun breathing or coughing, you continue to give 2 rescue breaths and 30 compressions until the child comes around. When the child comes to be sure to assure them that everything is okay and stay calm until the ambulance arrives (Robertson, 2010).

Advanced emergency planning is important in order to make sure that if either of the above situations occurs, the adult present knows what they must do in order to save the life of the child involved and make sure that the other children are calm and safe. Foremost, CPR training and knowledge of the proper way to perform the Heimlich maneuver is needed so that if any of theses situations occur, the involved adult can help the child who is at risk. At the very least posters can be placed in the classroom so that the teacher has procedures outlined for them to follow.

In addition, emergency kits should be kept in every classroom to aid a teacher when there is an emergency. Emergency kits should include water, a flashlight and various medical supplies to assist in an emergency. Emergency contact information should always be kept for each child that includes who to contact, their doctors numbers and any allergy or medical information that will assist in the care for the child.

References

Robertson, Cathie. (2010). Safety, nutrition and health in early education. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Pub Co.