This is a guest blog post written by a Registered Nurse of The MamaCoach team, Robin Forslund.

Hi, my name is Robin and I am a Registered Nurse, certified Heart and Stroke Foundation Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) Instructor, and mom of three beautiful children under the age of 6. I have worked in Emergency Rooms my entire nursing career. I am there when patients come in with sudden pulmonary issues or suffered a cardiac arrest and there is no question that their outcomes differ drastically whether bystanders knew CPR or not. I am used to using my skills in the Emergency Room but I have also had to use them twice at home on my children. I was so thankful that I was able to act quickly in an emergency situation.

Do you know what to do if your child started choking or suddenly collapsed?

robin forslund with babyThe statistics can be scary when it applies to children. Choking and suffocation account for 40% of unintentional injuries in infants under the age of 1 in Canada, and almost all of them occur at home or in the community. It takes less than 5 minutes of decreased oxygen to the brain to start causing brain damage, and in the worst-case scenario, death. Five minutes is usually not enough time for Emergency Services to arrive. Good quality CPR can double the survival rate of someone that suffers a cardiac arrest. It is an essential skill that everyone should have.

Even though we all know the importance of CPR most people haven’t taken a CPR course or refresher in a very long time. CPR certification used to take an entire weekend followed by an exam. There have been huge changes to the way CPR is performed and taught. There are also lots of options now from full certification to 1 hour sessions that teach you the basics without certification. 

If you are looking for a CPR class or course:

  • Go to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada website and search for a course near you 
  • Head to The Mama Coach website to book a Registered Nurse and Certified Heart and Stroke Instructor to come teach you CPR in the comfort of your own home or to sign up for a workshop 

Knowing the skills of CPR and Choking could save your child’s life and it has never been easier to learn. What are you waiting for? Follow a CPR course and get a greater protection for your family’s everyday life!

*All statistics are referenced from the Canadian Pediatric Society.

Robin Forslund is a Registered Nurse, Lactation Counsellor, Infant and Child Sleep Consultant, CPR Instructor and owner of The Mama Coach in Edmonton, Alberta. After welcoming her first daughter and struggling with sleep and breastfeeding, Robin became passionate about helping other women find their confidence and joy in motherhood. When she isn’t in the ER or helping other mamas, Robin can be found, probably with a coffee in hand, enjoying all that life can offer surrounded by her two beautiful daughters, new baby boy, and fabulous husband.