Important! How To Save Your Child’s Life If They Suddenly Stop Breathing
We never want it to happen, however if you find yourself in this kind of dramatic situation, we want you to be prepared. Here we will share with you how to save your child’s life if they suddenly stop breathing.
The most important thing is to quickly analyze the situation and maintain calm. When a baby or a child stops breathing, it can be due to different causes. It is essential to understand what situation your child is in, in order to act according.
Reasons children stop breathing
Choking is the accident obstruction of the upper or middle respiratory tract. It usually occurs when a child is eating and the child doesn’t chew the food properly before swallowing.
The obstruction is often caused by large pieces that the child is not capable of chewing. For example, large pieces of meat. This is why it is important to give them small pieces of food or purees until they learn how to chew properly.
We cannot forget about food that has pasty consistency such as chewing guy o jelly beans which are not recommended until a child reaches a certain age. Another cause of choking is when a child ingests a small object, this is why it is important to always have them under our supervision.
Drowning occurs when a child is unable to breathe. This occurs when the airway entrance of the body is submerged in liquid. This type of asphyxia occurs most frequently in the summer when family spend time in the swimming pool or at the beach.
Lack of supervision in the bathtub at home can also be a hazard. It is important to know that just a few centimeters of water can be dangerous.
This is why it is very important to keep and eye on your children at all times.
Pneumonia is the acute inflammation of the lungs. This disease often occurs after a “badly treated” cold. The onset of pneumonia is characterized by inflammation in the upper respiratory tract with symptoms like rhinitis and fever.
After the onset the inflammation descends to the lower respiratory tract which causes respiratory distress and an increased respiratory rate. With proper medical care, our children do not have to experience any health problems.
The pediatrician will prescribe antibiotics and bronchodilator inhalers in order to facilitate the passage of air. This together with good hydration will help us overcome the crisis.
This affection is the narrowing of the bronchial lumen, as a consequence of the contraction of the bronchi muscles breathing difficulties are caused. The best thing to do in this case is to go to the emergency room because your child might not be receiving enough oxygen.
Bronchitis is the inflammation of the lower respiratory airways
It happens when the bronchi which are located inside the lungs become inflamed due to infection. The onset of bronchitis is usually an affection in the nose or throat which later spreads to the lungs.
In the case of bronchitis pediatricians prescribe bronchodilators and antibiotics in order to improve air intake and also to cure the infection.
Mucus in the upper respiratory tract often produces cough. Cough is a natural mechanism the body uses to expel mucus.
There are times when this mucus reaches the lower respiratory tract. This occurs at times when a child is unable to expel it correctly after which inflammation occurs.
In very small babies, excessive accumulation of mucus can cause choking and even respiratory arrest.
In order to prevent this nasal washes are recommended. Nasal washes can be used to clean the airways and fight against mucus.
What to do if your child is not breathing
Look for help as quickly as possible.
We must find a way to resolve the situation immediately.
We have to viable options: go quickly the hospital services emergency room or to call emergency services.
While help is on the way
The Heimlich maneuver
The Heimlich maneuver is a first aid procedure used to unclog the respiratory tract which might be blocked by a piece of food or a small object.
It is an effective technique to save lives caused by choking. The person choking should be placed face up on a hard surface. After this rest your hands on top of each other between the sternum and naval of the choking person and push several times in the direction of the thorax.
CPR is an emergency procedure that is used to save lives when a person stops breathing and their heart stops beating.
It is done by performing 120 compressions per minute. CPR combines mouth to mouth breathing with heat compressions. This should be done until the restoration of respiratory and cardiac functions either normally or artificially.
In the case, CPR is done by placing the baby facedown resting on your forearm, you then give the baby 5 blows to the back. Never forget that in situations like every minute is extremely important. Try to find professional help as quick as possible.