did you know that in the state of Oklahoma the public school employees are not required to have any CPR/First Aid training. my 4 yo daugther recently fell at school and hit her head, she was bleeding pretty bad and the school nurse had called me because she felt that she needed stitches. Thankfully she didn't I took her to the ER and the doc said that it was more superficial and that she woulnd't need stitches.
When I asked her teacher about whether or not she was certified in CPR/fFirst Aid training, she said she was but that it is not required for them. But most of them are. BUT NOT REQUIRED ???
That floors me. It really scares me to know that if my child were to fall on the playground, become unconcsious and/or unresponsive that there MIGHT be someone there who would know what to do at that very moment, rather than spend 5 minutes trying to find someone who does. that 5 minutes could determine life or death for my child.
It really scares me...
I sent an e-mail to the State Education Superintendent regarding this. I am considering going to my state rep, congressmen, senator, legislator.ect. To get it to be mandatory that ALL public school employees be certified in CPR/First Aid.
So, would the heimlich have been appropriate with wheezing in a 3 y/o child or would you tell them to cough?
Do you have children??
speaking as the mother of my chocking 3 yr old child. She was too scared and panicky to even listen to me if I tried to tell her to cough. My instinct told me to get down on her level and give her 3 forceful gentle blows under the ribcage. Which I did and the popcorn came up. And she was crying. I felt much better hearing her cry.
About 5 or 6 years ago in oklahoma a child died in the early morning d/t choking on her breakfast. The teachers were not BLS trained and stood there and waited for EMS/Fire to arrive. The child did not make it.
This made the news and was a pretty big thing, but as you can see, it did very little as far as requiring BLS/First Aid training for teachers.
and that death could have been prevented. That is sad. Could you PM me the link to that story if you have it? thanks.
No I do not have children, and I was not in any way trying to mock you, I truly wanted to know the answer. I know that book-way and real-world way are sometimes different. I'm just trying to differntiate and did not mean any offense. I'm sorry if it came across that way. I'm sure as a mother you followed your instincts.
As far as the children choking everyday, I meant in a particular school. It is rare for a school to see a child choke or die of a heart problem. And I can't remember a day when there wasn't a nurse available in my middle or elementary schools.
There was no high school nurse, although the health class instructor taught CPR, so there was always a student or the instructor around that knew it if needed. But never once in my 12 years in school did I hear of anyone needed CPR or Heimlich.
As for the child that choked on breakfast, that could have happened at home, where the parents might not have known CPR either. It is very sad, but not necessarily anyone's fault.
No I do not have children, and I was not in any way trying to mock you, I truly wanted to know the answer. I know that book-way and real-world way are sometimes different. I'm just trying to differntiate and did not mean any offense. I'm sorry if it came across that way. I'm sure as a mother you followed your instincts.
As far as the children choking everyday, I meant in a particular school. It is rare for a school to see a child choke or die of a heart problem. And I can't remember a day when there wasn't a nurse available in my middle or elementary schools.
There was no high school nurse, although the health class instructor taught CPR, so there was always a student or the instructor around that knew it if needed. But never once in my 12 years in school did I hear of anyone needed CPR or Heimlich.
As for the child that choked on breakfast, that could have happened at home, where the parents might not have known CPR either. It is very sad, but not necessarily anyone's fault.
thank you, but even though children choking or having heart problems is not the norm. If the teaching staff had known CPR/firstAid they could have saved that child's life. And yes it could have happened at home, but the parent would have been the one responsible not the teacher. And it is not law that the parents be trained in CPR, but they are the parent. That is there responsibility. When my child is out of my care the school/daycare becomes the responsible party. Therefore as parent I would hope that they were trained in CPR.
Don't they get a substitute school nurse when the regular school nurse is absent?
Not many nurses want to work for the $75/day sub pay. When I am off, there is rarely a sub.
As far as teachers being CPR trained, our local EMS will come to the school and do it for free, so cost is not an issue. The teachers are not interested and it's in the contract that they do not need to be. Our teacher's aids are trained, however. So is our swimming teacher.
Not many nurses want to work for the $75/day sub pay. When I am off, there is rarely a sub.
As far as teachers being CPR trained, our local EMS will come to the school and do it for free, so cost is not an issue. The teachers are not interested and it's in the contract that they do not need to be. Our teacher's aids are trained, however. So is our swimming teacher.
That is great to hear. I wish the teachers would understand how important it is. But it's great to hear that it is offered for free. I just wish the teachers would take them up on it.
choking is a blockage of the upper airway by food or other objects, which prevents a person from breathing effectively. choking can cause a simple coughing fit, but complete blockage of the airway may lead to death.
choking is a true medical emergency that requires fast, appropriate action by anyone available. emergency medical teams may not arrive in time to save a choking person's life.
and that death could have been prevented. That is sad. Could you PM me the link to that story if you have it? thanks.
I dont have a link. I am a BLS Instructor and was going to help with providing free Heartsaver CPR for the teachers. I am sure you can do a search on it. I can pm you the city where it happened if you want.
On a side note, i can tell you that i dont think its a lack of cpr instructors, but a lack in the budget. They still have to pay the teachers to attend the classes (workshop). I have heard this as to the reason why they arent offering it/or werent offering it at the schools.
Its odd that in our state daycares are required to have cpr/first aid but not schools/teachers.
I dont have a link. I am a BLS Instructor and was going to help with providing free Heartsaver CPR for the teachers. I am sure you can do a search on it. I can pm you the city where it happened if you want.
On a side note, i can tell you that i dont think its a lack of cpr instructors, but a lack in the budget. They still have to pay the teachers to attend the classes (workshop). I have heard this as to the reason why they arent offering it/or werent offering it at the schools.
Its odd that in our state daycares are required to have cpr/first aid but not schools/teachers.
yes I know..All daycare workers here have to have infant CPR. DHS requires it because a lot of daycares have contracts thru DHS.
I hope you can get the Heartsaver CPR for teachers going, that would be great.
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Tippy-ta-ta
253 Posts
Do you have children??
speaking as the mother of my chocking 3 yr old child. She was too scared and panicky to even listen to me if I tried to tell her to cough. My instinct told me to get down on her level and give her 3 forceful gentle blows under the ribcage. Which I did and the popcorn came up. And she was crying. I felt much better hearing her cry.