CPR and Choking Emergencies

   One day at the Kidz Zone Center, a 6-year-old male student has stopped breathing and is apparently choking on a piece of carrot.  After noticing that the child is unable to speak, I rush over to him and began shouting to the other early childhood professional to inform the center director of the incident and to notify the child’s parents.  After the other early childhood professional returned with clearance from the director, I pick the child up and placed my arms around his abdomen and began performing the abdominal thrusts.  After performing the third set of abdominal thrusts, the carrot spews from out of the child’s mouth.  Unfortunately for him, he has become unresponsive. Without hesitation, I check for his pulse (carotid pulse) and check his breathing (look, listen, and feel) carefully place the child onto the floor and begin performing 30 chest compressions of no more than 2 inches.  After performing the first 30 chest compressions, the child begins breathing.  So, I stopped administering CPR and slowly sat him up and asked him several questions that only he could provide the correct response to.  After the child was properly attended to, the incident was documented.

·         Next, summarize why advance planning is often the best way to respond to or prevent an emergency situation and the kinds of training (e.g., CPR or first aid training) you believe are needed in order to prevent or positively resolve such emergencies.

Advance planning is the best way to respond to or prevent an emergency situation before an accident or an emergency occurs.  There are several reasons to why advance planning is the best way to respond to or prevent and emergency situation.  Such as having knowledge of emergencies, timing, and properly treating the emergency.  In doing so, the early childhood professional will be trained in recognizing and responding to any emergency and effectively treating the victim.  For example, the early childhood center should have a first aid kit stored and stocked in each room.  The center should have emergency numbers posted near their emergency equipment, and contact numbers of each child’s parent on hand.  As a result, CPR should be mandated for all employees on a regular basis to save lives and to prevent injuries. 

·         Finally, describe any other steps adults must take to ensure they are prepared to handle these kinds of crises, including such information as first aid supplies, family emergency contact information, and so on.

There are steps to which adults must take to ensure whether or not they are prepared to respond to different types of crisis. Such as keeping a first aid kit on hand, children’s emergency information, post evacuations maps, perform drills, be properly trained to recognize and respond to each crisis, and anticipate the unexpected.  First, I will begin with the first aid kit. The first aid kit should be a comprehensive kit, and the kit should be checked on a monthly basis.

Next, children’s information should be updated with a parental release form included in their file. The emergency information should also be filled out by the child’s guardian with accurate list of telephone numbers, addresses, and a list of people to contact in case of an emergency.  This information should also be kept in a fireproof file.

Third, the early childhood center should post maps that will effectively evacuate to a safe place. These maps should be visible but not in the child’s reach. At the same time, the center should perform drills that permit them to utilize each evacuation process. 

Overall, every early childhood professional should be trained in how to prevent, respond, and to treat an emergency before an emergency ever arises. The professional training should update on a regular basis.  He or she could promote safety by modeling safe procedures and posting pictures on his or her classroom wall.    

Reference

American Red Cross: Prepare for Emergencies with American Red Cross First Aid, CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Courses. (n.d.).  Retrieved on March 18, 2013, from http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/courses/aed.html.

Robertson, C. (2013). Safety, nutrition, and health in early education (5^th ed.). Belmont, CA. Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.