As the most common cause of accidental death in children, parents should take great care in making sure that their children are not exposed to choking hazards.
(prHWY.com) March 26, 2013 - Westminster, CO -- Westminster, Colorado (March 8, 2013) - Indian Crest Pediatrics is warning parents against the dangers of choking to young children, particularly those below the age of one. To educate parents and guardians, the renowned Westminster, CO pediatrics center gives advice on how to prevent such instances and what to do in case of emergency.
Upon developing the action of grabbing an object through their motor skills, babies typically progress to taking anything they can grasp into their mouths. If left unattended, they can innocently breathe in tiny objects through their mouth, resulting in choking. As the most common cause of accidental death in children, parents should take great care in making sure that their children are not exposed to choking hazards.
Babies can easily choke on items less than 1.25 inches in diameter. These include small food, removable toy parts, rubber balloons, and coins, among others. Babies can also find small objects by accident. If the child is unable to breathe or cough and appears blue, parents should administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR because the child is not receiving enough oxygen.
While receiving CPR, babies should be positioned face down on the guardian's lap, with their hand below the child, stabilizing the position. Five back blows should be given using the heel of the other hand. Afterwards, the child must be turned over and given five rapid chest thrusts over the middle of the breastbone using only two fingers. The guardian should check the mouth and pull the object only if it is visible and can be taken out with a finger. Afterwards, begin mouth-to-mouth breathing and repeat the process until the child is able to breathe independently.
For a comprehensive reference on emergency situations involving children, visit the website of the Westminster, CO pediatrics center at
www.IndianCrestPeds.com.
About Indian Crest Pediatrics
Indian Crest Pediatrics provides an interactive way for pediatricians and parents to work together in raising children. The staff is proactive in reaching out to the parents by having downloadable forms for their convenience in checkups and appointments in the website.
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