Do you know baby CPR?

aleeandbry

Is this something I should be taking a class on (CPR and choking, etc)?  At Riverside they only have child/infant/adult ones and they are 4 hours for $50.. it seems like overkill when there's probably only a few moves I need to know for an infant. 

I took this when I was 12 and became an American Red Cross Certified babysitter but clearly don't remember all the details.

tammiRN

I do, but as a nurse I have to take it every 2 years to keep up my certification.  $50 seems like a lot.  If you ask your nurse at the doctor's office, they might be willing to show you , it would take all of 5 minutes.  I also think that there is a DVD out that shows how to do it, but I'm not sure where you might find it.  I'll check and see what I can find out.

brandonsgrl

I know, but I'm not certified anymore, it's been about 5 years. $50 is WAY too much to pay to be certified. I'm pretty sure I paid less than that for both CPR and First Aid.

Mrs*Pink

LOL - I was a CPR trainer only a few years ago (involves a very lengthy training class) and I'm not sure how well I'd do at it at this point!

I think you could get the basics from the video, if you can get your hands on one.  I think certification is only really necessary if you are a child care provider, foster parents, lifeguard....

Use the video - practice on a doll!

jannypie

i definitely think practice helps a lot with CPR, in the class i took i learned about it sure, but actually doing it on the dummy was pretty different- learning the pressure and all. so if you do watch a video practicing on the doll is a good suggestion. do they offer courses for less through the red cross?

shannanicole

Childrens and Red Cross both have infant/child CPR classes for around $35/pp.  Check out their website!

aleeandbry

Thanks girls, I just reserved a video at the library and will borrow a doll to practice on (no dolls in our house with our 2 boys on the way!).  )

 

brainstorm102

I'm pretty sure they have you take the baby CPR class after you have the babies and before you leave the hospital. I took it along with Meghan/Tbonegrl after her twins were born. (I don't believe it cost anything.) She can probably provide more details for you.

tbonegrl

We were required to take it upon the NICU discharge of the boys. Erin took it too. It was free.

I'm certified for CPR, but infant CPR is a lot different. Your doll/video idea sounds like a good one. I definitely needed practice! We had to use the heimlich (sp?) 2 times on the boys when they came home from the NICU.

AnyaMW

Peter and I both took the 4 hr class at Riverside -- it was soooo worth it!  I'm happy that I now know how to do CPR on anyone, and the protocols had changed A LOT since I took a CPR class in high school and college.  

thefraziers

We actually just took it yesterday at OSU.  It was required as a NICU parent and was free.  We were, however, signed up for infant/pediatric CPR through OSU.  It would have been $35 and 3 hours long.  I think it's so important to know the correct way to perform infant CPR as it (and Heimlich) is so different from adult.  Back in my lifeguarding days, infant CPR was 15 and 1, now it's 30 and 2 (30 compressions, 2 breaths).