Sudden Cessation Of Breathing: How To Save Your Child’s Life
Today we need to talk about sudden cessation of breathing. We never want that to happen, but if you ever find yourself in such a dramatic situation, then we want you to be prepared. We tell you how to save your child’s life if they experience sudden cessation of breathing.
The most important thing is that you quickly analyze the situation and remain calm. When a baby or a child suddenly experiences respiratory arrest, there can be various reasons for it. It is essential to understand what kind of situation your child is in so that you can react accordingly.
Causes of sudden cessation of breathing
Choking
Choking occurs when the upper or middle airways become blocked. It usually occurs when the baby is eating and the baby is not chewing their food properly before swallowing.
The obstruction is often caused by large pieces that the child is unable to chew. It can be large pieces of meat, for example. Therefore, it is important to give them small pieces of food or purees until they have learned to chew properly.
We must not forget foods that have a sticky consistency such as chewing gum or jelly beans, which is not recommended until the child reaches a certain age. Another cause of suffocation is when the child ingests a small object. Therefore, it is important that they are always supervised.
Drowning
Drowning occurs when the child is unable to breathe. This occurs when the body’s airways are filled with fluid. This type of suffocation most often occurs in the summer when the family spends time in the swimming pool or on the beach.
Lack of supervision when the child is in the bathtub at home can also be dangerous. It is important to know that just a few inches of water can be dangerous.
That is why it is extremely important that you always keep an eye on your children.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an acute inflammation of the lungs. This disease often occurs after a “poorly treated” cold. The onset of pneumonia is characterized by inflammation of the upper respiratory tract with symptoms such as rhinitis and fever.
Thereafter, the inflammation begins to sink into the lower airways, causing difficulty in breathing and an increased rate of respiration. With proper medical care, our children do not have to experience any health problems.
The pediatrician will prescribe antibiotics and a bronchodilator inhaler to facilitate air passage. This, together with good hydration, will help us overcome the crisis.
Bronchospasm
This means narrowing of the bronchial lumen, and as a consequence of the contraction of the bronchi muscles, breathing problems occur. The best thing you can do in this case is to go to the emergency room as your child may not be getting enough oxygen.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lower respiratory tract.
It occurs when the bronchi, which are located inside the lungs, become inflamed due to infection. The onset of bronchitis usually starts in the nose or throat, which later spreads to the lungs.
In the case of bronchitis, your pediatrician will prescribe bronchodilators and antibiotics to improve oxygen uptake and to treat the infection.
Bronchiolitis
Mucus in the upper respiratory tract often causes coughing. Cough is a natural mechanism that the body uses to get rid of mucus.
There are times when this mucus reaches the lower respiratory tract. This occurs when the child is unable to get rid of it properly, after which inflammation then occurs.
Excessive accumulation of mucus in very small babies can cause sudden cessation of breathing.
To avoid this, it is recommended that you use products to clean your nose with. They can be used to cleanse the airways and fight mucus.
What to do if your child suddenly experiences respiratory arrest
Seek help as soon as possible.
We need to find a way to resolve the situation immediately.
We have two options: hurry to the emergency room or call an ambulance.
While help is on the way
Secret methods
The Heimlich method is a first aid method used to clear the airways, which may be blocked by food pieces or a small object.
It is an effective technique that can save lives if suffocation occurs. The person who is about to suffocate should be placed on a hard surface with the face up. Then rest your hands on top of each other between the sternum and the navel of the person who is about to suffocate. You need to press down several times in the direction of the chest.
CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is used to save lives when a person stops breathing and their heart stops beating.
This is done by performing 120 compressions per minute. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation combines the word-of-mouth method with compressions. This should be done until the restoration of respiratory and cardiac functions is either normal or artificial.
In this case, cardiopulmonary resuscitation is performed by placing the baby with the head down, which should rest on that arm. You must then give the baby 5 blows to the back. You must never forget that in situations like these, every minute is extremely important. Try to find professional help as soon as possible.
