CPR and Choking Emergencies

Emergencies occur unexpectedly, without warning. Emergencies involving children are very crucial in that time is of essence. The more time that passes during emergencies involving children, the more damage that can be sustained. Adults who work with or have children should be prepared to handle any type of emergency, because, with children, anything can happen.

Scenario #1
The first scenario I have created for this assignment is as follows: A 4-year-old boy is eating at the meal table at school, with his teacher sitting beside him. The child begins to choke on a piece of food. He is still able to cough, trying to dislodge the food from his throat.

Scenario #2
The second scenario I have created is as follows: The same 4-year-old boy as in the previous scenario, but is unable to dislodge the food by coughing. His cough becomes very weak, and he uses the universal choking signal, wrapping his hands around his throat. After giving abdominal thrusts to dislodge the food, the child becomes unconscious.

Emergency Procedures
Proper emergency procedures should be followed, no matter the type of emergency that is at hand. The procedures that are to be practiced in the two scenarios above include the following:
1. Remain calm and act immediately.
2. Assess the victim from head-to-toe, observing any unusual behaviors such as wrapping hands around the throat or difficulty breathing.
3. Give reassurance to the child that you can help. Provide help within your scope of training. Assign the teacher aide or other staff member to keep the other children calm.
4. Call for emergency help, or have someone else call while you help the victim.
5. Contact the parents of the victim and agree on an action plan. If the parents are unavailable, call other emergency contacts. Notify the victim’s physician.
6. Treat the victim for shock if necessary. Cover him with a blanket to keep him warm.
7. Stay with the victim until the parents or emergency help arrives. If you are to meet the parents at the hospital or physician’s office, accompany the victim.
8. Fill out a report. Assess the report to see if the incident could have been avoided.
(Robertson, 2007)

The emergency procedure I would follow in scenario #1 includes encouraging the child to continue coughing until the food comes out. If the child wishes me to, I would give abdominal thrusts. The emergency procedure I would follow in scenario #2 includes abdominal thrusts until the food comes out or until the child becomes unconscious. In this scenario, the child becomes unconscious. I would then proceed to perform CPR until emergency help arrives.

Advance Planning
Advance planning is the best way to respond or prevent an emergency situation. Advance planning ensures being prepared for any and all types of emergencies. It also ensures being able to act immediately in an emergency situation. Time is crucial in any emergency situation; the less the response time, the less damage inflicted on the victim and other people in the environment by the situation. Advance planning can also boost self-confidence in being able to act immediately.

Training
I work for Head Start. It is a requirement that all employees have a specific type and amount of training. First aid, CPR, and AED training are required. Bloodborne pathogen training is also required. Two trainings that are not required but should be offered, or at least optional include injury prevention and Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid provided by the American Heart Association. The Pediatric First Aid training is provided for any adult who works with children on a daily basis including teachers, coaches, counselors, and youth groups. This training specializes in how to handle illnesses and injuries in children during the first few minutes until emergency help arrives (Pediatric First Aid, 2009).

Additional Steps for Preparation
Additional steps that can be taken to ensure preparation for emergencies include keeping training sessions up-to-date, and to incorporate different types of training. Another step includes keeping all family emergency contact information in one place. This is a step I personally need to work on. Information is available in several different places, and need to be compiled into one specific location.

References

Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid. (2009, March 21). American Heart Association. Retrieved on March 17, 2009 from http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3060228

Prepare for Emergencies with American Red Cross First Aid, CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Courses. (2009). American Red Cross. Retrieved on March 17, 2009 from http://www.redcross.org/

Robertson, C. (2007). Safety, Nutrition, and Health in Early Education. (3rd ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning.