CPR FACTS:

 

Among children ages 1 to 4 years, most drownings occur in residential swimming pools. Most young children who drowned in pools were last seen in the home, had been out of sight less than five minutes, and were in the care of one or both parents at the time.

 

In 2001, 859 children ages 0 to 14 years died from drowning (CDC 2003). Drowning remains the second-leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years (CDC 2003).

 

In 2001, 864 children ages 14 and under died from unintentional airway obstruction injuries. Of these children, 87 percent were ages 4 and under.

 

In 2001, 169 children ages 14 and under died from choking (30 percent food and 70 percent nonfood) and more than 17,500 children were treated in hospital emergency departments for choking-related episodes.

 

In 2002, eight children ages 2 to 11 died from choking on or aspiration of a toy; three of these deaths involved balloons. Choking and suffocation/asphyxia deaths account for 62 percent of all toy-related fatalities.

 

In 2002, more than 80 percent of children treated in hospital emergency rooms for airway obstruction injuries were ages 4 and under. The majority of childhood choking injuries are associated with food items. Children are at risk from choking on small, round foods such as hot dogs, candies, nuts, grapes, carrots and popcorn.

CPR FAQ:

1. What do I do in the case of a drowning? Get the victim out of the water safely. Then begin the ABC's of CPR. You will do whatever your victim needs from you. (There is controversy over whether or not the Heimlich maneuver should be used in conjunction with CPR in order to dislodge water in the lungs and stomach.) Many of the experts say it should be used only if the airway is blocked with debris or vomit, and you are unable to successfully get air into the victim with rescue breaths. Since most drowning victims do not breathe in, large quantities of water, performing rescue breaths immediately is effective without first draining the lungs. Performing the Heimlich maneuver unnecessarily may increase the chances that an unconscious victim will vomit, and subsequently choke on the vomitus.

2. What if the victim vomits? If that happens, turn the victim to one side and wipe out the vomit as best you can with your finger and continue.

3. What if I panic and forget what to do? Try to review the information periodically that will help you keep it fresh in your mind. If you panic remember that the goal is to keep oxygen to the brain until help arrives therefore you need to make the heart beat and breath for them. Remember: something is better than nothing. Just do your best.

 4. When do I stop CPR? When help arrives and takes over, or if the victim starts to move or breath on their own.

5. What is the reason for calling 911 after the 5 Cycle of CPR for the children/infants if I am alone? Infants and children tend to have airway/breathing problems that are the main cause of their needing CPR and trying to correct that problem takes precedent over calling 911.

6. When performing CPR how do I know if it is working? You can tell if the chest rises with each ventilation. It is hard to determine if the chest compressions results in a pulse. Do the best you can and don't stop. It's better to perform CPR imperfectly than not at all.