Less than 1/3 of people who experience a cardiac arrest at home, at work , or in public, receive CPR from a willing volunteer nearby. Hands Only CPR is an excellent option for those who worry about being able to perform CPR correctly. Hands Only CPR is better than no CPR, and removes any concern about communicable disease. Most states now have Good Samaritan laws, so you cannot be held liable if you attempt Hands On CPR.

Hands Only CPR is relatively simple to execute. First step- CALL 911 or have someone nearby call for you. If your victim is unresponsive, center the heel of your hand on their chest, overlap with your other hand and press down hard and fast in the center of the chest until help arrives.

I invite you to check out the Hands Only CPR website, click here.

You can find videos demonstrating how to perform Hands Only CPR as well as phone apps you can download for free.

February is heart health awareness month. Most heart disease is preventable, yet heart disease remains the number one cause of death for men and women. The best tips for keeping your heart healthy – don’t smoke, eat right, see a doctor for checks up,  and exercise daily.

Several studies have proven that swimming is one of the best types of exercise. Swimming works both your heart and lungs. Most of your muscle groups are used while swimming, leading to increased muscle strength and flexibility. Swimming is an activity that can be enjoyed throughout your lifetime because it is easy on your joints. Swimming is also stress relieving which is another important part of cardiovascular health. The warm, soothing water surrounding you, your rhythmic movements as you move through the water, your focus on your breathing, all of these elements make swimming meditative and very relaxing for your mind.

If swimming laps aren’t your thing, the water offers many other opportunities for heart healthy exercise. Water walking or water running are wonderful alternatives, and water aerobics is always fun.

Working out in water burns lots of calories, which in turn, helps you achieve a healthy body weight, another important component to keeping your heart healthy.

Its never too late to learn to swim. Although children do seem to be able to trust swimming techniques more easily, adults are very capable of learning to swim. Do something great for your heart and come for a swim!

The Center For Disease Control is sharing important tips for keeping expectant moms and their unborn babies healthy. I wanted to share them here because some of these tips are important for everyone, pregnant or not, to follow to help promote good health.

Tip #1 – Wash Your Hands – This tip is excellent for everyone! The CDC recommends using soap and warm, running water to wash your hands after using the bathroom, handling pets, handling raw foods, gardening or handling dirt. It is also important to wash your hands after changing diapers or being around anyone not feeling well.

Tip #2 – Do not share cups, straws, forks and spoons – As a mom, it can be tempting to share a sip or bite with younger children, however saliva passes many viruses, one of which is Cytomegalovirus or CMV. CMV is a common virus that stays with a person for life. It may not produce symptoms in healthy adults and children, but it could pose a risk to unborn babies. Currently there are no vaccines for CMV.

Tip #3 – Cook your meat until it is well done, no pink – The CDC also recommends pregnant women avoid eating processed meats such as hotdogs and deli cold cuts unless they can be reheated to steaming hot. Dangerous bacteria are found on undercooked meat one of which is Listeria. Listeria can pass through the placenta to unborn babies causing miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and other serious health conditions.

Tip #4 – Avoid unpasteurized milk and dairy – Listeria can also be found in raw milk products. Pregnant women should avoid eating soft cheeses unless they are sure they are made with pasteurized milk.

Tip #5 – Avoid the cat’s litter box – Pregnant women should delegate this task to someone else in the household. If it can’t be avoided, it is important to wear gloves and wash your hands after cleaning the cat litter. Cat feces may contain parasites that cause Toxoplasmosis. Unborn babies may not have symptoms at birth, however may develop symptoms later in life such as learning disabilities and blindness.

Tip #6 – Stay away from rodents and their droppings – If you have pet hamsters or guinea pigs, delegate someone else to handling and cleaning their cages. Rodent saliva and droppings may contain the Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus or LCMV. LCMV can cause miscarriage or birth defects. Even breathing the dust from rodent mess can transmit this dangerous virus.

Tip #7 – Test for STDs – All pregnant women should discuss with their doctor screening for STDs which may be passed on to unborn babies either before or during birth.

Tip #8 – Vaccinations – Ideally, all women should consult with their doctor before becoming pregnant to determine if vaccinations could be needed. Certain vaccines are best administered before pregnancy and others are recommended for use during or after pregnancy.

Tip #9 – Avoid people infected with chicken pox or rubella – If you have not had these diseases or been immunized before becoming pregnant, it is best to avoid exposure to these viruses while pregnant.

Tip #10 – Talk with your doctor about Group B Strep – Group B Strep is found in 1 in 4 women. Group B Strep often does not produce any symptoms.  Your doctor can screen for Group B Strep and discuss how to protect your baby from contracting it during labor.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced there is a new concentration of liquid acetaminophen now available for infants in the amount of 160 mg/5mL compared to the previous concentration of 80mg/.08mL.

The danger this poses is parents and caregivers may be confused when it comes to dosing the medication for infants. You may accidentally administer an overdose if you assume you are to give the same amount of the 160 mg/5mL concentrate compared to the 80mg/.08mL concentrate. It is crucial to identify exactly the concentration you are administering and follow the dosing recommendations on the packaging based on the concentration amount.

In addition to following the directions very carefully, always use the dosing method provided with the packaging.  Do not re-use dosing cups or oral syringes from different packages.  The new, higher concentration acetaminophen should come with an oral syringe, not a dropper. If the dosing device is confusing, parents should consult their doctor for advice on how to administer the correct amount of medication.

Look specifically for the concentration amount. There may be very little change in packaging, and the new, higher concentrated packaging could look very similar to the older, lower concentrated packages.

Old & New Packaging Example

Here is a link to the FDA’s FAQ regarding the change in concentrations.

For more information please consult with your health care provider.

All medications should be used exactly as directed and under the supervision of your pediatrician.

We’ve so far had a pretty mild winter season, and unfortunately there have already been reports of people falling through thin ice. The ponds and lakes are just beginning to freeze over and before we unpack the ice fishing gear, its important to remember ice safety tips and go over them with your family.

My heart was greatly saddened to read about the boy who choked to death in his school cafeteria while others watched, unsure how to best help him. This should never happen. All adults should know basic CPR/First Aid skills.

If you haven’t already done so, take a class with our local Red Cross, or if your certification has expired, take a re-certification course. SwimWest requires all of our staff members to be current with their first aid/CPR certifications.

At the very least, if you do not have the time for certification classes, please take a few minutes to review this wonderful website, provided for free by the University Of Washington School of Medicine. They have basic instructions in CPR and first aid in both text and video format. You can even download free mobile training apps for your phone!! They also have pocket cards you can print off to keep in your wallet or purse.Their site includes both the standard version of CPR and the hands only version. CLICK HERE TO VISIT.

Everyone should be prepared to provide first aid/CPR when an emergency arises, and it is important to review often the required steps. Practicing will help keep you calm and clear minded, if you are ever required to act quickly. Most events happen at home, in the care of loved ones, or at work or school.

We shouldn’t have children choking in the lunchroom without an adult present who can administer first aid immediately. If every adult took the time to learn basic first aid and CPR, it would make a world of difference. I ask you to please make the commitment to become familiar with first aid/CPR and be prepared to react if someone is in need.

Winter  hasn’t fully arrived yet here in our area, but I’m sure it will eventually grace us with its presence. Its only a matter of time. We all should prepare our vehicles to make them more safe for winter travel.

Have a mechanic check your vehicle’s brake system, battery, antifreeze level, thermostat, heater and defroster. Check your tire tread to make sure its deep enough to grip in ice and snow. Inspect your wiper blades and replace if necessary. Replace your windshield washer fluid with a formula designed not to freeze. Test all of the lights, including your hazards. Wash off any dirt and apply a good coat of wax to prevent road salt from corroding your car.

Pack your car with an emergency kit, including a first aid kit and flashlights. Other important items to pack include jumper cables, emergency blankets, bottled water, and non perishable high protein snacks like granola bars and nuts. Every car needs an ice and snow scraper and a small shovel during winter time. In the trunk, bags of sand or even kitty litter will help add some weight and provide traction material if you end up stuck on an icy patch. Pack extra winter clothes, including boots to change into if need be.

Make sure you travel with a cell phone that is fully charged. Carry an adapter to charge your phone in the car.

Get in the habit of fueling your tank at the half mark rather than waiting for empty. This way you’ll never be stuck without gas to run your vehicle and keep it warm until help arrives should you need assistance.

When your vehicle is covered in ice and snow, take the time to clear all of it away to improve your visibility and the visibility of drivers behind you. Don’t forget to clear snow away from your lights and hood.

Always let someone know your travel plans, including which routes you plan to take and your estimated arrival time. Before you head out, check weather reports and road conditions.

Allow plenty of time to reach your destination and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, especially trucks which take longer to stop. 4WD vehicles may have an advantage when it come to starting up traction, however they have no advantage over 2WD vehicles when it comes to stopping. Most 4WD vehicles being heavier will actually require more time to stop.

If your car does go off the road and you become stranded, don’t panic. Put on your hazards, clear any snow away from the exhaust system, and call for assistance. While you wait, buckle up and bundle up. Run your vehicle a few minutes each hour to keep yourself from freezing, but conserve your fuel. Roll a window down an inch to allow fresh air in from time to time.

Have you adjusted your child’s car seat harness belt to make room for heavier winter coats? You shouldn’t have! Tightening the harness OVER a bulky coat or snowsuit is dangerous because in the event of a crash, the coat/snowsuit will compress and the harness strap can actually then loosen, causing injury to your child or even allow for your child to fall out of their car seat.

So how do we keep our children safely warm while traveling during Wisconsin winters?

For infant seats, dress your baby in clothes they would be comfortable wearing indoors. Secure your child in the car seat, making sure the straps fit snug. Rather than putting your baby into a winter jacket, use a car seat cover designed to cover the entire car seat, essentially putting a winter coat over your child’s car seat. These covers, also sometimes referred to as car seat ponchos, are designed to fit properly over your child’s car seat and provide warmth without interfering with the strap harness.

Another option, is to place your child into their car seat, fitting the safety harness snug and locking in place, and then put their winter coat on, turning the coat backwards and putting their arms through. (The jacket remains unzipped.) This works very well for older children as well.

If you choose to use blankets, never place the blanket first into the car seat before buckling in your child. This adds bulk which will not allow for a proper fit with the safety belt, plus the blanket will shift in the event of a crash and your child could be in danger. Use a blanket OVER your child once they have been securely strapped in. Blankets and coats need to be used over and on top of the safety harness.

You can also help keep your children warm while traveling by warming up the car. Just be sure to always warm up your vehicle outside, in a well vented area. Cars left running in garages will cause dangerous carbon monoxide build up.

For more information on how to properly use a car seat, please visit the Safe Kids website.

This mom does an excellent job showing you how a winter jacket will not properly allow for the straps to fit snug once a jacket is compressed. If you have a few more minutes, check our her Youtube video here.

The holidays are approaching and most of us will be decorating our homes to get into the spirit of the season. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has some smart tips for making sure our holiday decor doesn’t create any hazards.

Candles – The National Candle Association says more than 15,000 candle fire occur annually. Most candle fires start when candles are left burning unattended. Never burn a candle within reach of anything flammable. Trim wicks to 1/4 inch before use. If a candle smokes or the flame flickers, the wick is too long. Keep the wax pool free of debris including wick trimmings. Use a candle snuffer to extinguish flames instead of blowing flames out, which could cause hot wax to spray.

Lights -  Check the condition of string lights carefully. Discard any with frayed wires or loose sockets. Hang light strings securely, especially outdoor lights that could blow around in the wind and break. Never link more than 3 strands together. Always turn off lights before leaving or heading to bed.

Artificial snow – Follow the directions carefully. Artificial snow sprays can damage your lungs if inhaled.

Trees- Use only artificial trees that are flame resistant. Real trees should be freshly cut. Saw off the bottom 2 inches of the trunk to help your tree drink up more water. Check your tree’s water level on a regular basis. A dry tree is a dangerous fire hazard. Set up your tree away from heat sources and pathways.

Ornaments – Wire hooks and breakable ornaments should not be used in homes with pets and small children. Use tinsel, icicles, or other garlands that are lead free. Angel hair is spun glass and can irritate your skin and eyes. If you choose to decorate with angel hair, wear gloves.

Fireplace – Have your fireplace inspected and cleaned on a regular basis. Make sure the flue is open before lighting your fire and always use a fire screen to protect your home and loved ones. Fire salts which produce colorful displays when thrown onto burning logs contain heavy metals that will cause intense stomach irritation and vomiting if accidentally consumed. Be sure to keep these materials away from pets and children. It is never a good idea to burn wrapping paper in the fireplace. A flash fire could result. Recycle your wrapping paper instead. Never burn evergreens in your fireplace either. Dry greens also create flash fires or shoot out sparks.

We hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving!! For those of you planning on enjoying a turkey supper, remember these safety tips.

Frozen birds need time to thaw out. For every 4 pounds, plan on one day of defrosting in the refrigerator. So for example, a 12 pound bird will need 3 days to thaw before cooking, a 20 pound bird will need 5 days. Its best to use your refrigerator to thaw poultry. Place the frozen, still wrapped bird on a tray to catch any drippings and protect your refrigerator shelves from contamination from uncooked meat juices.

Frozen birds may also be defrosted in a sink of cold water. Plan on 30 minutes of thawing time for every pound. So a 12 pound bird will take 6 hours to thaw submerged in cold water. Keep the bird in the wrapper, breast side down and change the water frequently to keep it cold. A large cooler can be used instead of your sink but be sure to frequently check the water is staying cold.

Do not rinse your turkey before preparing it to cook. Rinsing the raw bird could spread dangerous bacteria around your kitchen. The exception is brined turkeys which must be rinsed to remove excess salt from the skin. If you have to rinse a brined turkey, be sure to immediately disinfect your sink and the surrounding area after removing the raw bird.

If you are planning on stuffing your bird with dressing, you must bring the temperature of the dressing up to 120-130 degrees before stuffing the bird. You can microwave your dressing for 6-8 minutes, to bring it to the proper temperature, just before stuffing the turkey and putting it into the oven. You want the temperature of your stuffing to reach the food safe temperature of 165, so you must add heated stuffing to your bird before cooking or the dressing and bird will not reach the required safe temperature together.

A properly cooked turkey will reach 165 degrees with an instant read thermometer inserted into breast meat or 170 degrees inserted into the thigh meat. Be sure not to hit a bone because that will throw off your temperature reading.

Store any leftovers within 2 hours in the refrigerator. If you will not be able to eat the leftover meat within 4 days, turkey freezes well. Wrap cooked meat airtight and it will last up to 4 months in your freezer. Adding frozen cooked turkey to soups and pasta dishes is a great way to add healthy protein to a meal. Be sure to bring the temperature back up the recommended food safe temperature of 165 degrees.