Learn infant CPR: Why it's important

Handling emergencies is always tough. If it involves your baby, it can get even more nerve-wracking!

If you don’t feel confident to respond to an emergency involving your infant, learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), which is a procedure that consists of chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Hopefully, no one should be in a position to perform CPR on their baby, but it could happen. Taking up infant CPR training will ensure that you are prepared in case of an unavoidable emergency. Administering CPR could help save your baby’s life if the heart stops beating or the baby is not breathing normally.

Why is learning Infant CPR important? A child, aged less than 1 year is an infant. In the CPR class, you will learn the steps needed to assess an infant and perform CPR. It’s ideal to take up the class before the baby is born, but it’s okay to go for it even after the baby comes. It is always better to be prepared.

Infants generally don’t need CPR but in case of respiratory or choking issue, CPR comes in handy.

Below mentioned are some of the reasons why CPR is needed. -Choking -Drowning -Suffocation -Poisoning -Swallowing objects -Smoke

Performing CPR restores flow of blood to the heart, brain, and other vital organs. If oxygen rich blood doesn’t flow to the vital organs on time, permanent brain damage could occur leading to death. CPR also helps to restore breathing until advanced life support is given.

CPR is best effective when it is performed as soon as the incident occurs. CPR should be performed only if the infant is not responding or is unconscious or not breathing normally. It is better to learn CPR from a certified instructor. Though materials and videos are available online, it's risky considering the infant's life.