What is SIDS?
SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of a baby under one year of age. While the exact cause of SIDS is unknown, it is believed to be related to an underlying health condition or breathing problem.
There are several factors that can increase the risk of SIDS, including:
- Sleeping on the stomach or side
- Overheating
- Exposure to smoke
- Premature birth or low birth weight
- Family history of SIDS
- Lack of prenatal care
- How can CPR help in an emergency?
Babies are at a higher risk of SIDS if they have their heads covered, and unnecessary items such as soft toys, cot bumpers and pillows can increase the risk of head covering or lead to an accident.
- An empty cot is a safe cot.
- Baby should always be placed to sleep on their back.
- Baby’s sleep space should be breathable and not fully enclosed as this can lead to suffocation – take cot bumpers, pillows and decorative items out when placing baby to sleep.
In the event of an emergency, CPR can be a life-saving technique. CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, involves performing chest compressions and rescue breathing to help maintain blood flow and oxygen to the brain and other vital organs. For a baby, the technique is slightly different than for adults, so it’s important to learn proper infant CPR techniques.
Learning CPR can give you the knowledge and confidence to respond in an emergency situation. By performing CPR, you can help stabilize your baby until medical professionals arrive.
How can you reduce the risk of SIDS?
While there is no guaranteed way to prevent SIDS, there are several steps you can take to reduce the risk. Some of these steps include:
- Always placing your baby on their back to sleep
- Using a firm, flat sleep surface without any soft objects or loose bedding
- Keeping your baby’s sleeping area in the same room as you for the first six months of life
- Avoiding exposure to smoke
- Breastfeeding your baby, if possible
- Using a pacifier during sleep
- Providing tummy time during awake hours
- In addition to these steps, learning CPR can be a valuable tool in reducing the risk of SIDS. By being prepared for an emergency, you can respond quickly and confidently in a crisis.
In conclusion, SIDS is a devastating tragedy that no parent wants to imagine. But by taking steps to reduce the risk of SIDS and learning CPR, you can be better prepared for an emergency situation. Don’t wait until it’s too late – learn CPR today and take steps to keep your baby safe.
First Aid for Burns – a must read for every parent
Sister Catherine Rodwell sheds light on the right way to handle burns, be it in children or adults. It’s crucial to be aware of the proper procedure to not worsen the burn’s impact. From 6-12 May, National Burns Awareness Week is being observed. In continuation of our conversation with “Mommy
A mother recounts her traumatic experience
We are very grateful for this mommy who wanted to share her traumatic story with us, so that other parents can learn how quickly accidents can happen. Please note that photo’s can be triggering. We are very grateful for this mommy who wanted to share her traumatic story with us,
The Leading Cause of Accidental Poisoning
As parents or caregivers, keeping children safe is our top priority. However, despite our best efforts, accidents can happen. One of the most common accidents that can be prevented is unintentional poisoning from medication. It’s important to understand that medicines are not sweets and should be treated with care. In
Head Injuries in Children
The World Head Injury Awareness Day falls on March 20th every year and it looks at the number of people who suffer from a mild bump on their head to severe brain injury. The purpose of this day is to remind us of how we could reduce accidents and brain
Top tips for staying healthy
Here are some tips for parents to help keep their children healthy during the colder seasons. Practice good hygiene: Encourage your children to wash their hands frequently and cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing. This can help prevent the spread of germs and illnesses. Dress appropriately for the weather:
How CPR saves lives
Knowing CPR can save someone’s life, our trauma expert, owner and founder of Survival CPR, Sister Catherine Rodwell, explains what CPR is, who can do and why it is so important that anyone (especially those in any caregiving role such as a parent or nanny) should take a course and keep
Caregiver Refresher Course
Caregiver Refresher Course Our Survival® Caregiver Refresher Course is specifically designed to enhance and update the skills of qualified Caregivers already working within the Caregiving field. This course is not a replacement for our full Survival® Caregiver Course but aims to build upon a Caregiver’s existing knowledge and to ensure
Return to School Safely
As schools have started in January, it is important that CPR and First Aid training is in place to ensure a safe return. It is vital that the school staff receive full CPR and First Aid training and are confident and are competent and most importantly, are up-to-date with their
B & C Course
Baby & Child CPR and First Aid Course Our Baby and Child CPR and First Aid Course is tailor-made for parents. This vital course will teach a parent how to handle an accident or emergency involving babies and children. You will learn how to handle all First Aid emergencies as