CHOKING

By Nurse Diane

Two hillbillies walk into a restaurant. While having a bite to eat, they talk about their moonshine operation.

Suddenly, a woman at a nearby table, who is eating a sandwich, begins to cough. After a minute or so, it becomes apparent that she is in real distress.

One of the hillbillies looks at her and says, 'Kin ya swallar?'

The woman shakes her head no. Then he asks, 'Kin ya breathe?'

The woman begins to turn blue and shakes her head no.

The hillbilly walks over to the woman, lifts up her dress, yanks down her drawers and quickly gives her right butt cheek a lick with his tongue.

The woman is so shocked that she has a violent spasm and the obstruction flies out of her mouth. As she begins to breathe again, the Hillbilly walks slowly back to his table.

His partner says, 'Ya know, I'd heerd of that there 'Hind Lick Maneuver' but I ain't niver seed nobody do it!'

I was watching a movie recently, Groundhog Day, and there was a scene where Bill Murray goes to a restaurant and someone is choking, and he performs the Heimlich Maneuver, and out pops the food that was blocking the person's airway and the person quickly recovers.

Choking can happen at any time. Choking prevents breathing, and can be partial or complete, with partial choking allowing some, although inadequate, flow of air into the lungs. Prolonged or complete choking results in asphyxia, which leads to anoxia and is potentially fatal. Oxygen stored in the blood and lungs keep the victim alive for several minutes after breathing is stopped completely.  One of the most common causes of choking is a foreign object blocking the airway, such as food or small toys.

If you see a person start to choke, they will typically use the universal sign of choking, which are the hands across the throat.  If a person is coughing forcefully, there is no need to take any action.  Encourage coughing, or even slapping them on the back.  Sometimes when I drink water it will go "down the wrong way" and my mother will tell me to raise my arms.  This has never helped me, but it may help you.  Keep watching closely, and if they stop coughing, that is the time to go into action.  Ask if they are ok – then follow these steps:

From behind, wrap your arms around the victim's waist.

Make a fist and place the thumb side of your fist against the victim's upper abdomen, below the ribcage and above the navel.

Grasp your fist with your other hand and press into their upper abdomen with a quick upward thrust. Do not squeeze the ribcage; confine the force of the thrust to your hands.

Repeat until object is expelled.

If choking occurs with a small child or infant, there are other procedures to take to prevent causing injury to them.  With a baby you will want to place them on your lap so that their head is lower than their body, have them on their stomach, so that you will be able to slap their backs.  This is the proper technique, however, in most actual cases the rescuer will become excited, and hang the child upside down and shake.  Caution must be taken to prevent injury to the child.

If you find yourself alone and become choked, a person may also perform abdominal thrusts on themselves by using a fixed object such as a railing or the back of a chair to apply pressure where a rescuer's hands would normally do so. As with other forms of the procedure, it is possible that internal injuries may result.

Taking time to chew your food properly, or keeping small objects away from children is the key for prevention of choking.  Taking small bites and proper chewing will help what you swallow to go down efficiently.  Make sure to review the Heimlich Maneuver, and ask those around you if they know the procedure. 

It’s never too later to learn, and you could save a life.

[Photos from Google) 

Singing with your Child

By Diane Forrest

Sing.
Sing a song.
Sing out loud, sing out strong.
Sing of good things, not bad.
Sing of happy, not sad.
Sing.
Sing a song.
Make it simple to last your whole life long.
Don´t worry that it´s not good enough for anyone else to hear.
Just sing.
Sing a song.
La La La La La La
La La La La La La
La La La La La La
Sing. Sing a song.
Let the world.
Sing out loud.
Sing of love there, could be.
Sing for you and for me.
Sing a song.
Make it simple to last your whole life long.
Don´t worry that it´s not good enough for anyone else to hear.
Just sing, sing a song.

This song was recorded by the group the Carpenters, and it is one of my favorites.  I love to sing, I began singing in church probably as soon as I could talk.  I have always been a part of a school or church choir.  One of the first performances I remember was in a program for my kindergarten class.  I sang a solo, a tisket a tasket, a green and yellow basket. 

So it was no wonder when my son was born that I would sing to him too.  From the time he was born until the age where he didn't want to be around his mother, we would sing songs together.  Even now we will occasionally sing a rounding version of Little Cabin in the Woods.  He still laughs when I do all the hand gestures.

Singing with your child is a wonderful way to bond and bring the family together. 

March is Sing with Your Child Month.  According to musictogether.com, When we take the time to sing and make music as a family, we form everlasting bonds, which ultimately allow our children to feel safe and secure as they grow, putting them on the road to future success. In addition to the bonding that occurs when parents sing and make music with their children, the children grow into confident music-makers who are able to participate with joy in the music of their culture. And, music learning supports all learning by promoting creativity, personal expression, and social interaction.

The beauty is that making music with children does not require special skills or “musical talent.” In fact, this may be the one time in your life when the audience (your children!) will always be thrilled with your participation — and want more! These experiences will live in your children’s memories for the rest of their lives and help them develop the necessary qualities to grow into loving and confident adults.

The impact of singing and making music with your child is immeasurable, and the rewards of this simple act will help us make the world a much better place than it is now. Sing a song, grab a drum (or even a plastic bowl and wooden spoon!) and join us as we celebrate Sing With Your Child Month.

(All Images from Google) 

Social Worker Appreciation

By Nurse Diane

As a nurse in the hospital, it was my job to take care of the patient from the time they walked into the door, until they were discharged.   Once the left the hospital, their lives were out of my hands.  Some of the patients leaving needed more help than their insurance company would allow.  Some would need home health, equipment, home safety needs, things that I was not able to take care of.  Luckily, our hospital had a few social workers employed there.  These ladies would visit everyone on the floor that would have a need at discharge that they couldn't take care of by themselves. They did things like find beds in nursing homes, or step down units, set up home oxygen therapy, even visit the homes to make sure the patient would be able to take care of their needs without any problems.  The social worker was also there to help with funeral arrangements and comfort families.  

Social workers are not only found in hospitals though, Here are some other places where they can be found according to bls.gov.:

 Child and family social workers protect vulnerable children and help families in need of assistance. They help parents find services, such as child care, or apply for benefits, such as food stamps. They intervene when children are in danger of neglect or abuse. Some help arrange adoptions, locate foster families, or work to get families back together. Clinical social workers provide mental health care to help children and families cope with changes in their lives, such as divorce or other family problems.

School social workers work with teachers, parents, and school administrators to develop plans and strategies to improve students’ academic performance and social development. Students and their families are often referred to social workers to deal with problems such as aggressive behavior, bullying, or frequent absences from school.

Healthcare social workers help patients understand their diagnosis and make the necessary adjustments to their lifestyle, housing, or healthcare. They provide information on services, such as home health care or support groups, to help patients manage their illness or disease. Social workers help doctors and other healthcare professionals understand the effects diseases and illnesses have on patients’ mental and emotional health.

Some healthcare social workers specialize in gerontological social work or hospice and palliative care social work.

• Gerontological social workers help senior citizens and their families. They help clients find services such as programs that provide older adults with meals or with home health care. In some cases, they provide information about assisted living facilities or nursing homes or work with older adults in those settings. They help clients and their families make plans for possible health complications or where clients will live if they can no longer care for themselves.

• Hospice and palliative care social workers help patients adjust to serious, chronic, or terminal illnesses. Palliative care focuses on relieving or preventing pain and other symptoms associated with serious illness. Hospice is a type of palliative care for people who are dying. Social workers in this setting provide and find services, such as support groups or grief counselors, to help patients and their families cope with the illness or disease.

Mental health and substance abuse social workers help clients with mental illnesses or addictions. They provide information on services, such as support groups or 12-step programs, to help clients cope with their illness.

March is Social Worker Appreciation Month.  If you know a social worker, or have personal use of one, don't forget to show your appreciation for all their hard work to make your life a little easier.  

Read to your Child Day – and Every Day

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By Diane Forrest

When my son was born, the first piece of advice she gave me was to read to him every day.  Well I took her advice, and not only did he excel in school, but 25 years later he still reads!  I read somewhere that you should read to your child 20 minutes every day...well I never put a time limit on reading.  I wanted him to enjoy books, and I would read to him for as long as he wanted, and he would usually want to read.  I would take him to the library and check out at least 25 books at a time, sometimes he got the same books over and over again.    And as he got older, he started reading the books to me.

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I continued the reading tradition with my stepson's children.  They always got their kids toys for birthdays and Christmas, and were always complaining about running out of room, so I would send books to them, starting out with a children's Bible, and continuing with the classics.  In today's world, people are so busy with extracurricular activities, technology such as computers, video games, and television, that sometimes, just snuggling up on a couch, or tucking a child in bed at night, books are sometimes overlooked.  Reading with your child will not only form a special bond with them but will also expand their knowledge and vocabulary, and learning skills.

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So today, if you have a child, take some time and read to them, if you aren't around any children, send some books to them and encourage their parents to read to them.  One of my stepson's favorite gifts from my husband is the recordable book my husband made before he passed away.  He read the night before Christmas for his grandson, and he listened to it nightly.

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Read to your child today, and start the roadwork for a brighter future.

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National Birth Defects Prevention Month

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By Nurse Diane

There is nothing more thrilling for a couple trying to increase their family to learn that they are expecting.  The first thought that comes to mind is the desire for their baby to be healthy, 10 fingers, and 10 toes.  To most, the sex of the baby takes a back seat.  Many newly expectant mothers visit their doctors; take prenatal vitamins, and research all the proper care necessary to produce a healthy child. More do not.  According to the CDC, about one in every 33 babies is born with a birth defect. Not all birth defects can be prevented. But a woman can take steps to increase her own chance of having a baby with the best health possible.

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Some causes of birth defects include:

Women who take certain drugs, smoke, or drink alcohol during pregnancy.
Women with certain medical conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes or obesity before and during pregnancy.
Women who take certain medications that are known to cause birth defects, such as isotretinoin (a drug used to treat severe acne).
Women who have someone in their family with a birth defect. To learn more about your risk of having a baby with a birth defect, you can talk with a clinical geneticist or a genetic counselor.
Women over the age of 35 years.

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Some ways to help prevent birth defects include:

Take 400 mcg of folic acid every day, starting at least one month before getting pregnant.
Don’t drink alcohol, smoke, or use “street” drugs.
Talk to a health care provider about taking any medications, including prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary or herbal supplements. Also talk to a doctor before stopping any medications that are needed to treat health conditions.
Learn how to prevent infections during pregnancy.
If possible, be sure any medical conditions are under control, before becoming pregnant. Some conditions that increase the risk for birth defects include diabetes and obesity.

This month is National Birth Defects Prevention Month.  If you, or know someone who is pregnant, please encourage them to follow their Doctor's orders, have regular checkups, and do all they can to prevent any possible defect.  Not all birth defects are preventable, but there are simple measures one can take to prevent many of them.  For more information, visit Marchofdimes.com.