Honey, I froze the digits

Because we are responsible parents, not only did we take out a scholarship for Cameron's education when he was 3 months old, but we recently also attended a First Aid course (aimed at Infant First Aid). Are you impressed???!! We are!




We learned the basic Dr ABC (Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, CPR), how to perform CPR on babies (DO NOT TILT THEIR HEADS, 2 breaths over nose AND mouth and only 2 fingers just below nipples on chest for 30 VERY quick compressions and then start again) and also what to do if he chokes on some junk you've left lying around:

Lay baby downwards on your forearm and using the heel of your hand, give her a firm back blow between the shoulder blades. Give up to five back blows and check between each blow to see if the blockage has relieved. Clear the blockage from baby’s mouth with your little finger.
If the blockage hasn’t cleared, lay baby on her back, place two fingers in the centre of her chest and give her up to five chest thrusts. Check to see if the blockage has cleared between each chest thrust.
If baby is still choking, check to see that 000 has been called and alternate five back blows and five chest thrusts until emergency help arrives. If at any point baby becomes unconscious, commence CPR.

Whacks on backs also recommended for adults choking. The Heimlich is not "endorsed" here. Apparently too much damage can be done to other organs in the process.

You should train your child to always come and tell you when they've hurt themselves (especially with bumps to the head!!). These BumpBuddy Cold Packs you get are cute. (Just make sure they're not filled with anti-freeze: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/second-recall-of-toxic-ice-packs-after-poisoning/2008/09/21/1221935450285.html ) They can be encouraged to come fetch their "bump buddy" as an incentive.

And, people...if your little darling slams his hand in the door and loses the tips of his fingers...scoop 'em up but DON'T put them on ice. Put them bits in a Zip Lock submerged in cold water coz apparently (God, don't sue me!) according to the guy who gave us the course(!) if they freeze the cells die/expand whatever and then they can't be reattached....

Snake/spider bites = tight bandage all the way up the extremity. Shake out clothes and bedlinen before use incase of red back or white tail spiders.

Not matter what country you're in, 112 on your mobile will work to dial the emergency switchboard. If you're in a Banana Republic, well that's your own fault. You can dial it even if your phone is flat.

And of course there was more (3 hours of a Saturday afternoon.. Let's hope we just have to deal with lots of skinned knees...touching wood, here.