choking, carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon Monoxide is a dangerous, odorless gas. It is a toxic, and deadly killer. It can kill you without you ever even being aware of it’s presence. Carbon monoxide can be created from the burning of any carbon based compound, such as natural gas, propane, wood, plastic, etc.

As suggested in the fire safety section of this book, consider adding carbon monoxide detectors to your home to detect any dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, which are often mistaken for the flu, are:

Headaches

Dizziness

·	Disorientation

Nausea

Fatigue

·	Sleepiness

If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, get everyone out of the house, and turn off all appliances if you can. Call your local emergency number if anyone is ill, and have the house checked out before returning.

Choking

Choking, or airway obstruction, kills around 800 children per year under the age of 14. It hospitalizes another 16,000. There are many things parents can do to reduce this risk.

If your child is choking, and can cough or talk...

If your child is choking, and they are coughing or talking, do not do anything. If they are able to do either, their airway is not completely blocked. Stand by the child, comfort him or her, and encourage them to keep coughing to get the item out. Trying to perform the Heimlich maneuver, only works when the airway is completely, or almost completely obstructed. In other instances, aside from damage to the victim, you could actually lodge the item in their throat more by performing the Heimlich maneuver when not needed, thus creating a more serious situation.

If your child is choking, and unable to cough...

·	In this situation, the child’s airway is obstructed and he or she needs immediate first aid.

For infants: Place the child over your forearm, angle them slightly down, and deliver 5 back blows. Don’t be afraid to give a little force to them. Then turn the child over and give 5 chest thrusts, by pushing down with two fingers in between the child’s nipples. Do not perform a finger sweep on an infant unless you can see the object.

·	For children over 1 years of age, Perform the Heimlich maneuver by standing directly behind them, making a fist with one hand and placing it over their navel or belly button, Putting the other hand on top of your fist, and give quick, upward thrusts into your child’s abdomen.

Simple things to reduce choking threats...

·	Slice hot dogs down the middle lengthwise before serving to children.

·	Avoid serving children fruit with pits until they are old enough to be trusted with it.

·	Avoid giving infants and toddlers foods like popcorn, peanuts, hard candy, even most soft candies such as skittles, gumdrops, etc.

Always monitor children around balloons, even older kids. Balloons are dangerous because they are something that children frequently put in their mouth, and if they end up choking on one, balloons are the most dangerous thing to choke on. Their smooth surface makes them hard to remove, and their flexibility can have them act just like a diaphragm.

·	Teach children not to talk with their mouths full. This also increases chances of choking.

·	Watch these other chokers; Beads, buttons, coins, marbles, balls, jawbreakers.

·	Never let children eat candy or suck on anything while laying down. This puts the throat at a perfect angle for the item to be accidentally swallowed and get lodged in the child’s throat.

·	When serving grapes to younger children, slice the grapes lengthwise down the middle to make them a non-choking hazard.

·	Do not give children candy while playing or engaging in other physical activities.

·	Keep all bags, plastic wrap, and similar plastics out of the reach of young children. Teach older children about the dangers of placing such items over their head or mouth.