Important Phone Numbers & Safety Tips (CPR & First Aid)
We all have cell phones these days, so posting a list of important numbers might not be as relevant as it used to be, even ten years ago. Input the following numbers into your phone or post them on the refrigerator for a babysitter or someone who comes in the house that might not have these numbers saved on their phones.
· Poison Control Centers
Call (800) 222-1222
· The doctor’s office or nurse on call number
· 911 non-emergency number for your area
When it comes to choking hazards or emergencies, be sure to baby proof your house as best as you can. My suggestion is to get on your hands in knees in each room and see or feel things from the baby’s point of view. There are things down low that you might not have thought of to make safe or to secure.
· Outlet covers (even open spaces on a power strip)
· Cupboard or door locks
· Secure furniture or mirrors to the wall
· Toilet locks
· Garbage’s with lids or latches
· Make sure artwork or pictures are out of reach
· Bumpers for sharp corners or edges (coffee table for example)
· Hide chords or secure safely
· Secure lamps
· Make sure the little rubber knobs on door stoppers near the molding, cannot easily be removed and swallowed
Babies and toddlers are smart and if they see an opportunity to grab something or pull up on something, they are going to do it.
Don’t think that since a piece of furniture is covering an outlet or a hazard, that the baby cannot get to it. They are tricky little ones.
Make sure there are no toys or objects that the baby can get to that are a choking hazard.
As a rule of thumb, if the toy or object can fit through a toilet paper role (1.25 inches), then it is a choking hazard.
Just the other day, I let my son play with magnetic chip clips. Totally harmless, right? One fell from the refrigerator and onto the kitchen floor. Upon impact, the button size magnet fell out. My son went right for it and would have most likely put it in his mouth and swallowed it. I frantically grabbed his hands so he couldn’t reach for it, and searched for the magnet on the ground because I had heard it break.
What would have happened if I was not right there, or didn’t hear it fall. I understand that things happen to all of us, but knowing what to do or who to call is comforting.
Also, make sure you have first aid supplies and at least a basic understanding of CPR in case you ever need it.
Here is a list of some first aid supplies. Be sure to go through the items every few months to make sure nothing has expired. Also, it might be a good idea to keep a smaller version in your diaper bag for first aid needs on the go.
· Rectal thermometer
· Infant Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or infant ibuprofen
· Nail clippers & nail file
· Aquaphor or Vaseline
· Bandages, Hydrogen Peroxide and Antiseptic Spray
· Saline Spray and Nasal Aspirator
· Alcohol wipes (to sterilize items)
· Hand sanitizer, if you are unable to wash your hands before and after
CPR
There are plenty of paid courses that you can take to get certified in CPR. Most employers offer classes as well. You can search YouTube or click the following links to review how to perform CPR on an infant or a child.
Infant CPR (one-year-old and younger):
https://www.sleepadvisor.org/why-do-babies-sleep-with-their-butt-in-the-air/
Child CPR (1-year-old-puberty):
https://www.sleepadvisor.org/why-do-babies-sleep-with-their-butt-in-the-air/
Choking
Infant (one-year-old and younger):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHZdBY-CkGw
Child (one-year-old-puberty):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_vSEviFXIo
These situations are terrifying and I can’t even imagine experiencing any of those scenarios. I watch these videos every few months to keep my mind fresh on what to do in case of an emergency. The more I know what to do, the more my mind and body will react with muscle memory.