Tag Archive for: Toddlers

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PEDIATRIC CPR GUIDELINES UPDATE

A coordinated effort between the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association has produced new CPR and airway obstruction guidelines which went into effect towards the end of 2025. This is an important update and one all families should be aware of.

CHANGES FOR INFANT CPR

The use of two or three fingers on the chest for compressions is no longer in effect. It is now recommended that the rescuer use the palm of their hand between the nipples (as before), 

or alternatively, the two-thumb encircling hands technique.

We still need to move the infant chest at least 1/3 of its depth or about 1.5 inches. The ratio of pumps to breaths remains 30 pumps and 2 rescue breaths.

This change reflects the fact that most rescuers were not pumping deep enough.

The recommendation for foreign body obstruction (choking) is unchanged. Repeated upper back hits (up to 5) followed by up to 5 chest thrusts is still the method of choice until the baby is over one year old.

CHANGES FOR CHILD CPR

CPR technique for a child now includes the use of two hands to ensure adequate depth of compression (at least 1/3 of the chest wall depth).

 

Please remember that if a child is no longer conscious due to airway blockage it is imperative that CPR begin immediately.

The new recommendation for a choking child now includes 5 upper back hits followed by up to 5 abdominal thrusts (inward and upward), alternating until the object is cleared.

  • For best effect, position yourself to the side and slightly behind the choking child. For a small child, you may need to kneel behind them rather than stand. This should be done while the child is bent over. Previously we suggested back hits while the child was standing upright.
  • Give 5 back blows using the heel of the hand to strike between the shoulder blades. If no improvement, then have the child stand up straight.
  • Next, move behind the child; bend your knees slightly for balance and support, and give 5 abdominal thrusts, pulling inward and upward each time.
  • Continue alternating 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the child can cough, cry or speak.
  • If they become unresponsive, begin CPR (starting with compressions)

 

CORRECT RESPONSE TO CHOKING 

As always, we continue to encourage parents and care providers to follow the basics of prevention of airway obstruction by adhering to the following principles:

  • Never leave an infant or small child unattended during mealtimes
  • Once they are crawling/walking keep all food and other objects away from them
  • Do not provide food or snacks in the car as it is difficult or impossible to recognize an airway obstruction before it is too late
  • Be extra careful if you enter a small mouth to try and remove an object. If you must, do so by going along the cheek then swipe across the mouth

When someone is choking immediate response is crucial. You can’t rely on Paramedics to save the day as they won’t be able to arrive in time. That is why we cannot stress enough how important it is for ALL family members and care providers to know how to save a choking infant or child. 

 

BE PREPARED. BE SAFE.

 

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CONSUMER WATCH! RECALL ALERT

There’s a lot to think about when you’re having a baby, so many needs to consider – cribs, strollers, clothing, diapers, baby bottles, bassinets, and more. Needless to say, choosing the best and safest products for your infant, toddler, or young child can be a dizzying process, especially when you’re bombarded with so many product choices.

But how to know if you’re buying something that poses a serious risk? An easy way to stay informed is to register with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (cpsc.gov) so you can receive email alerts that identify dangerous products and provide information about their risks. They also have an app you can download to your phone. You can find that here. This is a must-have resource. Adult-related products are included as well.

We went over all the alerts that were issued this year up to the writing of this article and identified a number of product categories that seem to continually pose a health and safety risk where infants and toddlers are concerned. And the list of products grows every day.

Here’s a sample of our findings…

  • Several baby bathing seats that are unsafe and present an increased risk of drowning
  • Bassinets which are unsafe for infants, increasing the risk of suffocation or entrapment

  • One or more baby gates that do not meet safety standards
  • More than a few chests of drawers that are top heavy and are easy to tip over by a small child causing serious injury

  • Numerous toys, games and other items powered by small batteries that, if placed in
    the mouth, increase both a choking risk as well as a risk for toxic ingestion

  • Several safety helmets for those starting to ride a bike or skateboard that are not
    adequate for protection of the head
  • Several “self-feeding” pillows with attachments for a small bottle that pose a
    choking risk

  • Any number of medications and/or supplements that violate child resistant
    packaging and can lead to serious or lethal toxic ingestion
  • Infant & toddler bedtime clothing that do not meet flammability standards

There are also a significant number of items that adults use regularly including:

  • Power strips for multiple electrical inputs that pose a fire risk
  • Steam cleaners due to risk of serious burns
  • A number of pool or hot tub drain covers which increase the risk of entrapment and
    drowning
  • Several adult portable side rails that increase the risk of serious falls

 

Save a Little Life™ strongly encourages all parents to register with the CPSC. Here’s a direct link to subscribe to their mailing list.

 

BE PREPARED. BE SAFE.

 

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IS AI READY TO TAKE ON THE ROLE OF PHYSICIAN?

These days, a growing number of people worldwide are consulting AI Chatbots for medical advice. The question is, can we rely on them to give us accurate advice?

A recent study conducted at Oxford University set out to establish whether or not AI systems are effective with regards to diagnosis and appropriate course of action.

The study included nearly 1,300 participants who were asked to identify potential health conditions and recommended courses of action, based on personal medical scenarios developed by doctors.

One group used AI chatbots to assist in their decision-making, while a control group  used other traditional sources of information. The researchers then evaluated how accurately participants identified the likely medical issues and the most appropriate next step, such as visiting a GP or going to the ER.

Results showed that those who relied on the chatbots made the right choice less than half of the time and that AI correctly identified the problem only about a third of the time.

Although AI platforms excel at standardized tests of medical knowledge, they fall short when it comes to accurate diagnosis because they don’t reflect the complexity of interacting with human users.

Researchers found evidence of three specific areas that posed a challenge:

  1. Users often didn’t know what information they should provide
  2. AI provided very different answers based on slight variations in the questions asked
  3. AI often provided a mix of good and bad information which made it difficult for users to identify the best course of action

Ultimately, AI’s advice was not any better than a simple Google search.

Rebecca Payne, one of the study’s authors, said it could be dangerous to rely solely on this new technology which might fail to recognize when a person needs urgent medical attention.

Senior author of the study, Associate Professor Adam Mahdi (Oxford Internet Institute) said: ‘The disconnect between benchmark scores and real-world performance should be a wake-up call for AI developers and regulators. We cannot rely on standardised tests alone to determine if these systems are safe for public use. Just as we require clinical trials for new medications, AI systems need rigorous testing with diverse, real users to understand their true capabilities in high-stakes settings like healthcare.’

Clearly, AI isn’t qualified to provide clear medical guidance…yet. On the plus side, although still in its infant stages, some doctors find that incorporating information provided by AI into their own assessments can help them spot illnesses in patients which could lead to new discoveries.

As for the rest of us who are still largely flying by the seat of our pants, it’s probably best to continue to rely on traditional doctor/patient interaction, at least for the time being.

 

 

 

 

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MEASLES ARE BACK

It has been a quarter century since measles was officially eliminated in the U.S. Yet here we are in 2025 seeing a resurgence. Numerous cases have been reported in different states which are giving health experts great cause for concern.

As of mid-May 2025, there were more than 1,000 new cases of measles and three measles-related deaths in the U.S., surpassing the 285 cases reported for all of 2024, according to public health statistics.

Researchers at Stanford University just published an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association which suggests that with the current level of immunizations, measles would return to endemic status with more than 850,000 cases in 25 years.

 

WHAT ARE MEASLES AND WHY ARE THEY SO DANGEROUS?

Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus which can lead to serious complications like ear infections, pneumonia, and brain inflammation (encephalitis) which can be fatal. Children are obviously the most vulnerable but it can affect people of all ages, especially those whose immune systems are weak.

According to Jay Varma, MD, an epidemiologist and primary care physician in New York City “The healthcare delivery system is not prepared for the resurgence of measles.” Measles is twice as contagious as COVID-19 so given what occurred during the recent pandemic it is very likely that a measles epidemic would push the healthcare system beyond its capacity.

 

WHY ARE MEASLES ON THE RISE AGAIN?

There is a lot of misinformation out there about vaccines which has resulted in reduced vaccination rates in some communities. That is further compounded by recent policy changes that have taken place in Washington some of which have been spearheaded by the new director of Health and Human Resources who has openly questioned the need for various vaccines,

When it comes to your family’s health we believe it is vital that you always check with your healthcare provider for the best advice.

CHOKING PROTOCOLS – Are Anti-Choking Devices the Best Option?

Choking is a very real threat and scary issue when it comes to infants, toddlers, and small children so it’s a rare occurrence if I don’t get questions in a CPR class regarding the use and benefits of anti-choking devices.

In a previous article, De-Choking Devices – Friend or Foe? we looked at some of the possible dangers and misinformation surrounding these devices. However, if you believe the promotions for the so-called Doctor Endorsed “Dechoker” or “LifeVac” anti-choking devices, you’re still likely to feel compelled to run out and get one immediately.

A closer look at the research and official recommendations for a choking baby or child, however, might have you come away with a different opinion.

First of all, it’s worth noting that the FDA’s recommendations do not include any of the above-mentioned devices. That holds true for the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. Instead, they recommend that the first line of defense be the skills learned in an infant or child pediatric CPR class.

Why?

Responding to an actual complete airway obstruction requires quick action by a family member or trained care provider/nanny. Anyone responsible for the care of your baby or child must be prepared to act immediately and be well-versed in how to do so. Even a paramedic response may not be of any help because time is of the essence.

So, why not rely on an anti-choking device? They look simple enough to use.

In this video, the first in an excellent 4-part series, Dr. Darria Long Gillespie, an ER doctor and mom talks about the issues:

If you are a previous client of Save a Little Life™ you have learned the necessary skills in class. A reminder, the standard protocol is either back blows and chest pushes for an infant or a measured Heimlich Maneuver for toddlers or older children. If you were to discuss this with your pediatrician, she/he would tell you that those skills are the most important responses for complete obstruction.

If those methods do not work, then as a last resort you might consider the use of an anti-choking product.

In every class we preach the following prevention methods which should be part of your daily choking prevention routine, including:

  • Do not leave the self-feeder alone during mealtimes
  • Once able to crawl or walk do not give them any food or snacks and only do so when in a proper highchair
  • Do not provide food or snacks in the car until they are much older
  • Try to avoid overreacting to gagging episode(s) but if you feel the need to go into a small mouth, always go in along the cheek line and then sweep across. This will avoid an accidental episode of pushing food into their airway

Again, anyone with care responsibilities for a baby or child must know the proper skills…without exception.

For an in-depth comparison and investigation of the most popular anti-choking devices be sure to view the Dr. Darria’s complete series on this topic: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

 

If you’re interested in refreshing your CPR skills or are a first-time parent wanting to learn, please contact us for more information

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HOW TO RECOGNIZE CANINE STRESS RESPONSES

The L.A. Times recently ran an article on the rising increase of dog bites that are sending record numbers of us to local Emergency Rooms. The numbers are actually quite troublesome.

A recent study cited 48,596 ER visits that were related to dog bites, a number that reflects a 12% increase from the previous year and 70% higher than 2005. That equates to 125 ER visits for dog bites per 100,000 California residents.

Why the increase?

As many a 45% of American households now have at least 1 dog. That number is higher than it’s ever been owing to the large number of adoptions that took place during the pandemic when people were suffering from isolation.

Some dogs, like people, respond to unusual stress with aggressive behavior but unfortunately, the initial warning signs may go unnoticed. According to the article, a large number of puppies (and adult dogs as well) were hastily adopted during the pandemic and never properly socialized which has resulted in unaddressed behavioral issues.

State figures and a recent study by public health researchers show that, in California, children and young adults are the age groups most likely to make ER visits for dog bites.

The most serious injuries often involve the head and neck, making little children especially vulnerable. Nationwide, children under 5 were more than twice as likely to die from dog bites as members of other age groups.

What to look for?

Canine aggression occurs “on a ladder” of escalating behaviors and not all of them are obvious unless you know what to look for.

Easy to remember are the 5 Fs:

  • fret
  • fidget
  • fight
  • flight
  • freeze

Initial signs of discomfort also might include lip-licking, looking away, or yawning. The behavior starts to escalate when the dog begins stiffening up, staring, or crouching with a tucked tail. And things can worsen if an active toddler or small child gets too handsy.

According to Elizabeth Stelow, chief of the Behavior Service at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital,  owners should learn to recognize anxiety in dogs and understand their body language. When dogs owners repeatedly miss the signs of distress, biting may occur.

Dogs who are punished regularly are  also more inclined to bite. Negative feedback such as collars that deliver electronic stimulation, choke chains, and/or pronged collars were also identified in the article as another source of great stress.

Although aversive techniques appear to work by subduing the animal’s behavior, that result is often deceptive. Fear-based learning can push dogs to stop engaging in any behavior, good or bad, as the dog becomes fearful of a negative response.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior encourages owners to focus on positive reinforcement, rewarding dogs for what they do right. Motivating good behavior with treats, toys, verbal praise, and other positive choices make for a much happier and better-behaved pet.

Be sensitive to any signs that might lead to aggressive behavior.

Dogs are such an important part of our family, our lives, and our wellbeing. Let’s make sure that we equally value the wellbeing of our canine friends.