You never know when you will be called on to assist in a medical emergency. It may be at the pool, at a park, at your child’s sporting event, or even at a family social gathering in your own home.
As physicians, we are used to providing care in emergency situations. Recently, I was at a social gathering when an individual walked into a glass door, resulting in facial bleeding, dizziness and nausea. Fortunately, the host had a first aid kit available with some supplies, which allowed me to stop the bleeding and provide medical assistance.
On another occasion, I found a neighbor lying in the street. I also was at a softball game when a player took a line-drive to his face, which resulted in serious injuries. Both of those emergencies required 911 calls, but my medical background allowed me to keep the patient calm and provide assistance until the ambulance arrived.
As a sports medicine doctor, Dr. Koutures seems to always be on call, particularly at sporting events.
But, physicians aren’t at all events, and we aren’t in your home. That’s why it’s essential for families to have basic first aid training. It can save a person’s life.
With swim season in full force, it’s important to know that pool drownings are the leading cause of death among children 1-4 years of age in the United States, in California, and right here in Orange County.
Immediate assistance is required in order to avoid death or a lifelong brain injury from lack of oxygen. That is why the focus should always be on prevention: making sure your children (and all unskilled swimmers) are fitted with a Coast Guard-approved life jacket they can wear in the pool; signing your whole family up for swim lessons; assigning a “water watcher” whenever a child is in a pool; and making sure there is a four-sided fence around your own pool to avoid tragic accidents.
If you witness a drowning, it is critical to know the latest American Heart Association and American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines on resuscitation after drowning. It could literally save the life of the victim. Drowning progresses from initial respiratory arrest due to lack of oxygen to cardiac arrest. Click here to learn more.
So, what do we recommend?
Register for First Aid Training
Enroll the whole family in a CPR/AED class so that everyone in your household knows how to respond and help in an emergency situation. The City of Irvine offers these classes on a fairly regular basis. Click here to review the list of upcoming courses.
You can also find workshops through the American Red Cross. Click here to learn more about Red Cross classes in Irvine. (Before signing up for any CPR/AED course, be sure that it includes the 2024 new guidelines for resuscitation of a drowning victim.)
Take the AAP Pediatric First Aid & Safety Online Course
Approximately 30 million pediatric emergency department visits occur in the United States each year. Because medical emergencies and injuries can happen anywhere, knowing how to respond when an emergency happens ensures the best possible outcome.
To help teachers and caregivers (parents, siblings, grandparents, babysitters, etc.) respond to emergency situations, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is now offering an online Pediatric First Aid & Safety Training course. This online course costs $25 and is intended to prepare anyone who cares for children to recognize everyday medical emergencies and care for an injury or illness until professional help arrives.
Click here to learn more and to register for the AAP online course.
Chris Koutures, MD, FAAP grew up here in Irvine. He is a dual board-certified pediatric and sports medicine specialist who practices at ActiveKidMD in Anaheim Hills. He is a team physician for USA Volleyball (including participating in the 2008 Beijing Olympics); the U.S. Figure Skating Sports Medicine Network; Cal State Fullerton Intercollegiate Athletics; and the Chapman University Dance Department. He offers a comprehensive blend of general pediatric and sports medicine care with an individualized approach to each patient and family.
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