As much as you may want to make your baby stop, placing objects in the mouth is part of an infant's normal development. Also called mouthing, babies put things in their mouth to explore the world around them. An infant does not understand the word...
Handling a choking episode in a child requires prompt action to prevent brain damage or death. Children are at particular risk of choking because they may put objects into their mouths or fail to chew food completely before swallowing....
Lateral chest thrusts are a method of compressing the chest to assist someone who is choking and has stopped breathing. You would use this maneuver primarily on children, and some smaller adults, who might otherwise be injured from the Heimlich...
Emergencies can happen anywhere at anytime. Aside from heart attacks and strokes, learning CPR and first aid can provide the knowledge to assist someone who is bleeding, choking or experiencing symptoms from a chronic medical illness or side...
Basic life support (BLS) encompasses a series of skills that can be used to support, or save, someone's life. Emergency medical personnel are trained to use BLS skills, which may also include the use of specialized medical equipment and...
Dysphagia is the condition that results in choking on food and liquid or aspirating these into the lungs, which can be silent and imperceptible. In the most severe cases, patients even choke on their own saliva. Many disorders can cause or lead to...
Hiccups can be frustrating, but they can be rapidly controlled by pressure points. Hiccups occur when the diaphragm abruptly contracts, instead of undulating regularly as during normal breathing. A burst of air floods the lungs, then the...
CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a vital emergency method for manually compressing the heart to maintain blood flow through the body when the heart can't do it, says FamilyDoctor.org. CPR is often needed after accidents, near...
Young children are usually at the highest risk when it comes to choking hazard. Playing with small toys, running with things in their mouth and still learning how to chew and swallow food properly increases choking risk. It is easy for both...
Knowing basic first aid procedures is a must for any babysitter. Children can be extremely accident-prone, and you must know how to handle emergency situations when they arise. When you are confident in your basic first aid abilities, you’ll...
Breathing, the process of taking in air, requires the cooperation of the respiratory system that exchanges the oxygen with the blood, the circulatory system that carries the oxygen, the nervous system that sends signals to the necessary muscles...
Toddlers enjoy feeding themselves with easy-to-handle finger foods. But some small foods present a choking hazard. Small children don't always chew their food thoroughly before swallowing and small pieces can become lodged in their throats. A...
A babysitter is required to safeguard the child she is watching, keep him entertained and maintain order in the home. With the weight of the responsibilities required, you may find it hard to find someone that you trust with the care of your...
If your ribs are cracking while stretching, pain is likely present as well. A rib fracture, costochondritis and sprain can all result in cracking if the rib cage is stretched. Consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
There is nothing scarier for parents than watching their child choking and gasping for air. According to the New York State Department of Health, choking ranks fourth among the leading causes of unintentional death in children 5 and under. At...
Accidents are unexpected by their very nature and knowing what to do in an emergency is what first aid is all about. The self-confidence you gain from knowing first aid procedures and how to act in an emergency cannot be overstated; it could be...
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), human breast milk is the preferred source of nutrition for infants. The AAP's recommendation is for exclusive breast-feeding until 6 months of age, and continued breast-feeding until the...
Gasping behavior in infants and toddlers means that they aren't getting enough air. Many times, this indicates that the airway is obstructed. Gasping can indicate a number of serious conditions. While some cases of croup and bronchiolitis are...
Sudden breathing problems can be extremely serious or even fatal. There are a number of possible causes for a sudden inability to breathe, as well as a corresponding number of first-aid measures and long-term treatments. Consult your doctor with...
Breathing problems are always scary, particularly when it is an infant who is having trouble breathing. It is normal for babies get sick several times during the first year of life, and the number of illnesses generally increases if the baby is...
Unintentional injuries rank among the top 10 causes of death in infants, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infants can be injured in the car, the crib and even by their own toys. Many accidents can be prevented by...
Choking occurs most often in children, but adults, particularly the elderly, are at risk as well. In 2006, 463 adults age 65 or older died due to choking, reports the Utah Safety Council. Eating too fast, drinking too much alcohol, wearing...
Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury for children younger than the age of 14, according to Safe Kids USA. Approximately 103 children die from falls each year; 2.2 million kids are treated in emergency rooms for fall-related...
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, also known as CPR, and other first aid techniques can save a life in an emergency. In an infant, permanent brain damage can occur after only four minutes without oxygen, according to Medline Plus, with death...
If your ribs hurt while stretching, you've likely experienced a recent traumatic blow to the chest or have been lifting more weight than your muscles can handle. Some rib injuries are potentially life-threatening, since the ribs protect vital...
In recent years, more child care centers have opened their doors to working single moms, single dads and dual-income households. Leaving your child with someone you don't know is scary enough, but when there are several other children around...
In 2003, poison control centers in the United States received 92,166 calls about kids who had swallowed coins, according to the website HealthyKids. It is usually not a problem. According to the website Parents, 80 percent to 90 percent of the...
Apple cider vinegar has long been used as a folk remedy for dandruff and sunburn. This product of fermentation is also touted to help you lose weight and ease arthritis pain, health claims yet to be substantiated by science. However, there are...
The Heimlich maneuver is used in cases of emergency when a person is choking. Learn how and when to perform the Heimlich maneuver in this health video.
The Heimlich maneuver is an important skill to learn for first aid. Learn how to perform the Heimlich maneuver in this first aid video.
Choking is the mechanical (either by foreign object or compression) obstruction of outside air flowing into the lungs. Learn about choking, including emergency treatments like CPR, in this video.