Question: I was wondering what your recommendation would be for the best baby shower gift. She’s a first time mom and I want to get her something off her registry and really unique but very helpful. Any ideas?
Answer: You know what, I’m pretty hesitant to recommend any new toys. With all the recalls going around lately, a “Poison-Me-Elmo” might not be the best choice. And sure there’s lots of cool gadgets and gear out there for moms-to-be. But I have a suggestion that is by far, the best gift you can give a new mom. It’s a kit you can buy online: Infant CPR Anytime
According to The American Heart Association, knowing how to perform the relatively simple skills of CPR and relief of choking can make a life or death difference for infants who suffer cardiac arrest or whose airways become blocked by food or objects. They’ve made it easier than ever to learn lifesaving skills with Infant CPR Anytime. The new training program can be used to learn skills that could help save the life of an infant (newborn-12 months).
The kit includes an infant CPR manikin, a 22-minute skills training DVD and two fold-out Quick-Reference Skills Reminders. And what’s really cool is she can keep it for herself or if she already knows CPR, she can gift it to the grandparents, siblings or anyone who might take care of her baby.
Knowing CPR just might save a life. You just might get one heck of a thank you note months later. Why is it so important to learn? The American Heart Association (www.Americanheart.org) has some pretty convincing statistics:
About 75 percent to 80 percent of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home, so being trained to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can mean the difference between life and death for a loved one.
Effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after cardiac arrest, can double a victim’s chance of survival.
CPR helps maintain vital blood flow to the heart and brain and increases the amount of time that an electric shock from a defibrillator can be effective.
Approximately 95 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims die before reaching the hospital.
Death from sudden cardiac arrest is not inevitable. If more people knew CPR, more lives could be saved.
Brain death starts to occur four to six minutes after someone experiences cardiac arrest if no CPR and defibrillation occurs during that time.
If bystander CPR is not provided, a sudden cardiac arrest victim’s chances of survival fall 7 percent to 10 percent for every minute of delay until defibrillation. Few attempts at resuscitation are successful if CPR and defibrillation are not provided within minutes of collapse.
