This is a very exciting day for Best Mom Products and the Talking CPR Kit. Please check out Steve Kuzj’s article and video segment.

The first week in June is national CPR Awareness Week. It is the perfect time to (re) familiarize yourself with CPR before swim season and summer are underway. This year, the American Heart Association is promoting “Hands-Only CPR.”

Only 2 steps to save a life:

1. Call 911

2. Push on the chest at least 100 beats per minute so almost 2 compressions each second.

Immediate, effective CPR could more than double a victim’s chance of survival.

Last week, I took a refresher class through Safety Training Seminars in San Francisco. There were about 20 of us, some from non-profit organizations, doula’s and other mom’s. It was a valuable 2 ½ hours of my time. Here are some of the interesting facts I learned …

• Between 4-6 minutes of no air/circulation, the brain is dead. On average, it takes the paramedics 8-10 minutes to get to the victim

• If you are alone and choking, you should lean forward over a chair and use it as if it were someone else doing the Hemlich Maneuver or abdominal thrusts.

• Compressions – Airway – Breathing (C-A-B) is the new guideline through American Heart Association and if you do not feel comfortable giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, then hands-only compressions is better than doing nothing.

• Adult/Child CPR – If unresponsive with no breathing, give 30 compressions at a rate of at least 100 compressions per minute and a depth of 2 inches followed by 2 breaths (use entire hand(s))

• Infant CPR – If unresponsive with no breathing, give 30 compressions at a rate of at least 100 compressions per minute and a depth of 1.5 inches followed by 2 breaths (use 2 fingers)

• When giving chest compressions, lock out arms and use strength of body to push down hard and fast. Bouncing can cause internal injuries

• No matter what the circumstance, if you perform CPR and the victim is responsive, still insist that they go to the doctor right away to be checked out for internal injuries

The instructor shared a few stories with his about his experience over the last 12 years. He stopped at a Kmart on the way to Lake Tahoe and the woman working the cash register collapsed and wasn’t breathing. He turned to her colleague next to her and said “Call 911.” He immediately started CPR. Awhile later the woman came back and he asked her if the police were on their way. She said that she was looking for the manager to see if it would be okay to call. If you are thinking “what??!!” at this story then you feel the same way most of us feel but it does happen. Luckily, there was an officer in the parking lot who called it in quickly.

The first thing you should is call 911 or tell someone else to call – get professional help to come asap.

Kidshealth.org posted this interesting trivia … Why Does My Skin Get Wrinkly in Water?

Have you ever stayed in a pool or bathtub so long that your fingers got wrinkly? This is normal — and can even affect your toes. But why does it happen?

Even though you can’t see it, your skin is covered with its own special oil called sebum (say: see-bum). Sebum is found on the outermost layer of skin. Sebum moistens, or lubricates (say: loo-bruh-kates), and protects your skin. It also makes your skin a bit waterproof. That’s why water runs off your skin when you wash your hands, instead of soaking it in like a sponge would.

But staying in water for a long time washes away the sebum. Then, the water can penetrate the outer layer of your skin. This causes your skin to become waterlogged. So how does this lead to wrinkles? No one is really sure.

Some people think it’s because the skin expands to allow extra water inside. The expanded skin ends up looking really wrinkly. Other people think that it’s because the skin is tied down to the tissue underneath in certain places. So when the skin is full of water, it swells up (gets puffy), but only in places where it is not tied down, which makes it look wrinkly.

What should you do if this happens to you? Nothing. It goes away quickly on its own. You’ll have more sebum on your skin in no time.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: October 2010

I watched as my daughter slipped underneath the 1 foot of water she was standing in. She went under in seconds. Only 4 feet away from her, I ran as fast as I could in the wading knee deep baby pool water. In a panic, I watched as she went under the water a second time. That is when I grabbed her under her arms, pulled her up and she was choking up water, completely unsure of what just happened. Water came shooting out her nose and mouth. I started patting her back seeing that she was going to be fine. I’ve always heard that it only takes seconds for an accident to happen but after experiencing that incident, the reality has set in. Yes, I was watching my child closely. Yes, I was sitting on the side of the baby pool (not talking to anyone) just watching and it still took a good 10 seconds for it to happen, for me to get through the water and pick her up.

Thankfully, she recovered quickly. Me, on the other hand, still feel breathless thinking about it. In honor of National Safety Month, I wanted to share some great Water Safety Tips from the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF)

Water Safety Tips

Teach children water safety and swimming skills as early as possible.

Always brief babysitters on water safety, emphasizing the need for constant supervision.

Appoint a “designated watcher” to monitor children during social gatherings at or near pools.

Equip doors and windows that exit to a pool area with alarms.

Install a poolside phone, preferably a cordless model, with emergency numbers programmed into speed-dial.

Post CPR instructions and learn the procedures.

Keep rescue equipment poolside. Don’t wait for the paramedics to arrive because you will lose valuable life-saving seconds. Four to six minutes without oxygen can cause permanent brain damage or death.

Keep a first aid kit at poolside.

Install four-sided isolation fencing, at least five feet high, equipped with self-closing and self-latching gates, that completely surrounds the pool and prevents direct access from the house and yard.

Maintain constant visual contact with children in a pool or pool area. If a child is missing, check the pool first; seconds count in preventing death or disability.

Don’t use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision. Never allow a young child in a pool without an adult.

Don’t leave objects such as toys that might attract a child in the pool and pool area.

Never prop the gate to a pool area open.

Don’t rely on swimming lessons, life preservers, or other equipment to make a child “water safe.”

Never assume someone else is watching a child in a pool area.

Don’t leave chairs or other items of furniture where a child could use them to climb into a fenced pool area.

Don’t think you’ll hear a child who’s in trouble in the water; child drowning is a silent death, with no splashing to alert anyone that the child is in trouble

When pregnant with my second child, I was excited to know that the one thing I didn’t have to worry about was gear. I had the infant car seat, strollers, ergo/insert, co-sleeper, bouncer, high chair, Bumbo and everything in-between. Since only a few years had gone by, I thought that I would have known or heard about a recall on a car seat or something I owned. I don’t know why I just assumed the news would let me know…somehow they would find me.

I recently decided to take a more proactive approach. In doing some online research, I found a site called www.wemakeitsafer.com which provides a FREE service to consumers to make them aware if products they own are recalled and/or unsafe.

I decided to look up our Graco Snug Ride car seat that we bought in 2007 that we used for both daughters and now passed along to a friend who is having twins. I was surprised to learn that an infant could remove pieces of fiber fill and put it in their mouth creating a choking hazard. Although this specific announcement did not alarm me, it did make me aware. I realized it could have been something much worse.

At this point in time, we have passed on most of our gear to friends. If you do plan on selling your used gear, you must make sure it has not been recalled. It is actually illegal to sell something that has been recalled and it is your responsibility as the seller…whether consumer or resale store… to know this information and disclose it.

This site is simple to use. I thought I would need all the details of what I own but after filling out the brand name and product type, a list of various products with photo’s appeared. It is easy and not very time intensive. I figure that for 5-10 minutes of my time now, it can be a life saver in the future. Check it out!

My younger daughter simply refused to have her nails clipped. It was probably because I accidentally clipped her skin when she was 8 weeks old and she never forgot. I felt horrible and was terrified to try again but she didn’t let me. So, I went on search of an alternative to nail clippers. I have had friends who would just bite their child’s nails but that wasn’t for me.

I found the Safety 1st (no, they don’t pay me to endorse their products — just happen to really like them) ProGrade™ Gentle Vibes Nail Filer. It features an easy grip handle and the file head never needs to be replaced!

I did like this product while my daughter was a baby but once her nails became harder, it didn’t work as well.

What an incredible boy! After saving his drowning 2 year old sister, he responded with, “She’s really beautiful,” he said. “I love her really much.”

Here is the story from Mesa, AZ – ABC – KNXV ….

MESA, AZ – People are calling a 9-year-old boy a hero after he saved his baby sister’s life with CPR.

According to Mesa Fire Department spokesman Capt. Forrest Smith, the girl fell into her grandmother’s swimming pool around 9 a.m. Sunday near Sossaman and Guadalupe roads.

Smith said the girl’s mother found her floating in the pool and pulled her out. She was placed on the ground unconscious and not breathing. Her 9-year-old brother, Tristin Saghin started to perform CPR, saying he learned it from watching television.

Tristin tells me, “I just went running outside and I did CPR on her. I knew what I was doing.”

After a few stressful minutes, Tristin said his 2-year-old sister started to breath again.

Paramedics took the young girl to the hospital. Thanks to Tristin, she is expected to be fine.

“I couldn’t imagine what was going through his mind,” Smith said. “Here he is, in a situation where most of us, if we had a family member in that position, as parents we tend to really panic and be concerned. I tell you, we really give kudos out to him.”

They say courage comes in all sizes, and Tristin seems to have more than someone twice his height. He says he would do anything for his little sister.

“She’s really beautiful and I love her very much,” Tristin said.

Tristin and his family are in town from Las Vegas visiting their grandmother.

City officials are considering giving Tristin an award for his quick reaction and skill.

This is the third drowning call in the Valley in the last two days.

On Saturday, a 3-year-old girl died after she was found in a family swimming pool around 3:30 p.m. in Mesa.

A few hours later, a 7-year-old girl was pronounced dead after she was found in an above-ground swimming pool in south Phoenix.

There have been 28 drowning calls in Maricopa County so far this year. Of the 28 water related incidents reported, 14 people have died; nine adults and five children.

Let’s lighten things up a bit, eh? Best Mom Products wants to share with you some favorite safety items we have for our children. I have to say that trying different products is something most new moms do. We have had 4 bath tubs for 2 babies/toddlers. It might seem ridiculous to some, but moms know when something doesn’t work, you need to change it up.

Our favorite newborn bath is:

4 Moms CleanWater Infant Tub
http://www.4moms.com/cleanwater_infant_tub
Why?

The built-in thermometer is AWESOME! A light indicates when it is too cold or too hot or just right. It has a constant flow of new water so your baby stays warm.

Our favorite baby/toddler bath is:

Safety 1st Tubside Bath Seat
http://www.safety1st.com/can/eng/Products/Child-Care/Bathtubs/Details/1882-44537-Tubside-Bath-Seat

Why?

Interestingly enough, our older daughter did not like this. She preferred a large inflatable rubber duckie to sit in. We stored it away thinking we’d eventually give it away but tried it with our youngest and it works great. She sits up and doesn’t lose balance. It hooks onto the side of the bath tub for sturdyness. It is easy to wash her. Love it!

Food is then #1 choking hazard among children. Hot dogs, marshmallows, and any round or cylindrical food can easily get caught in a child’s throat and block the airway.

Children of all ages are susceptible to choking, but kids younger than 5 are especially vulnerable because they have fewer (and smaller) molars, weaker chewing ability, and narrower airways than older children and adults. Most dangerous of all, they’re prone to putting things in their mouths–unlike older children. (Coins and balloons can also make children choke. )

My daughter recently had a balloon that became punctured and let out all the air slowly. She was so distraught but wanted to keep the deflated balloon including the string. This seemed like an automatic safety hazard so we had to throw it away.

In one analysis of about 450 choking fatalities among children over two decades, the inhalation of latex balloons was responsible for 29% of deaths and 17% of deaths were caused by hot dogs.

POTENTIAL HAZARDS

Here are some foods to watch out for:

Rounded, small, or slippery foods. They can slip right down the throat and lodge at a narrowed spot. Such foods include baby carrots, grapes, and raisins.

Firm, but pliable, foods. Items like hot dogs, sausages, and frozen banana pieces can conform to the shape of the throat and lodge there.

Light, dry foods. Snacks such as popcorn, tortilla chips, potato chips, and pretzels can get stuck in the throat, as can hard produce (including those with tough or dry skins), such as raw apples and carrots.

Chewy, sticky foods. These might not be manageable for very young children. They include caramels, gum, gummy bears, fruit “leather” (such as Roll-Ups), dollops of peanut butter, and cheese slices or cubes.

Stringy foods, like celery or spaghetti, may also be hard for little ones to manage.

If a food is tough to chew, like steak or bagels, children might try to swallow pieces whole–an obvious hazard. Steak, chicken, or other meats with bones are also hazardous.

Some medications, including those for teething pain, can numb the mouth and throat muscles, so talk to your child’s pediatrician about the safest way to feed your child.

Sources: Consumer Reports, Web MD, American Academy of Pediatrics