Amidst all the terrible news of how harsh the world is, we also come across absolute champions who restore our faith in humanity. A recent incident portray this beautifully, when a team of medical professionals worked relentlessly to save the life of a child.
A Critical Situation
On September 20, 8 -year-old Chinese boy Xiao Yu was rushed to the intensive care unit of Changzhou Children's Hospital. He was diagnosed with fulminant myocarditis, a condition where the heart's muscles became inflamed, according to the hospital's statement in a press release.
Although Xiao Yu managed to recover after being treated, his condition took a sharp turn the following morning. He suffered a cardiac arrest, but thankfully medical professionals managed to step in in time.
Still, doctors elected to treat Xiao Yu with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a technique that aids the oxygenation of a patient's blood. However, ECMO needed advanced life-support equipment that had to be brought in from another hospital - far away in Shanghai.
In the midst of waiting for Shanghai's medical team, the 8-year-old's blood pressure dropped sharply, his heart stopped beating and so did his breathing.
He was kept alive by medical "angels"
A medical team of about 30 people were determined not to let the boy slip away. So they started performing chest compressions. They were "rotating non-stop" to keep Xiao Yu alive, as quoted by the hospital.
Each member performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation for approximately two minutes. They didn't stop until the medical staff from Shanghai had arrived, and by then over five hours had gone by.
In a nutshell, they performed 30,000 chest compressions over five long hours to keep the boy's heart pumping blood.
Lee Ya Min, Changzhou Children hospital's deputy head of pediatric intensive care unit, told the media that "even if there was just a sliver of hope, we had to try our best".
And "their best" certainly worked! The child was kept alive until the life-saving equipment arrived from Shanghai.
The following day after treatment, Xiao Yu's dad sent a note to the hospital that the boy had written.
In the message, Xiao Yu expressed his gratitude towards the medical team: "Thank you for your strength, I would like to come back and thank all the people who helped me," he writes.
We think this is a beautiful story and one which shows just how dedicated and amazing medical professionals can be!
10 Basic first aid tips for kids all parents need to know
Parents, we might not be on the same level as doctors and medical professionals, but in certain situations, knowing the right first aid skills can mean everything. Here are 10 common issues and 10 basic first aid tips all parents should know.
1. Cuts
- Stop the bleeding by pressing firmly on the wound with a clean cloth.
- Wash the wound with soap under lukewarm water.
- Pat the wound dry with a clean cloth, afterwards dab some iodine or antiseptic to prevent any bacteria from infecting the wound. Cover it with a bandage afterwards.
2. Burns
You have to cool the burn, and can do so in three ways:
- position the burned area under cold running water
- apply a cold wet towel to the area
- cover the wound with loose gauze or bandages if it's small
- or apply burn ointment to the affected area
3. Insect Bites.
Of course, treatment depends on which insect stung your child. However, there are a few general pointers to note:
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For bee stings, remove the stinger if it's still in your child's skin - you can use a tweezer, or scrape the skin with your nail or a credit card to remove it.
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Then, apply a cold compress or calamine lotion on the wound. Doing so will help reduce the itching and the burning sensation.
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Take note if your child suddenly has difficulty breathing, coughing, or develops hoarseness in their voice - this is a sign of an allergy, and should be brought for medical attention immediately.
4. Scrapes and grazes
There are a variety of things you can do to prepare for really painful scrapes or abrasions that your child may experience. But in general, there are a few steps you can do to help before visiting a doctor:
- Clean the wound with running water until you can't see any foreign particles, like dirt.
- Stop the bleeding by elevating the limb above the level of the heart and applying sustained pressure. Although tourniquets seem like an obvious solution, you can risk damaging the limb's nerves if the pressure is applied for too long (which happens when using a tourniquet).
- Apply an antiseptic cream to the wound, and reapply as indicated.
5. Rashes
There a variety of skin rashes that can affect a baby. We've highlighted them in a previous article on the top 5 rashes in babies and what you can do to treat them.
6. Broken Limbs
- First, keep the injured limb in an immobile or still position.
- Apply ice (gently) to reduce rapid swelling and to help numb the pain
- Check for signs of shock. If these are present, cover your child with a warm blanket and keep them focused on you.
7. CPR
CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a key skill in giving rescue breaths to a child who isn't breathing. This video by St John's Ambulance shows how to do it - and with a nursery rhyme to help you remember, parents!
8. A choking baby
Many of our previous articles provide detailed step by step instructions on how to save a choking baby or child. You can also watch this video for a clearer understanding.
9. Nosebleeds
- Tell your child to sit upright, but tell them not to tilt their head back.
- Check and remove any tight clothing around their neck.
- Once done, pinch the lower end of their nose to block the nostrils. Afterwards, let them lean forward while you apply constant pressure for about 15 minutes.
- Make sure that you do not stop applying pressure - even if it's to check if their nose has stopped bleeding - until 15 minutes are done. Doing so could prolong the bleeding.
10. Febrile Seizures
- Remove any objects, like toys, blankets, etc. around your child that could hurt him when he has a seizure.
- Cool your child's body temperature. Consider turning on any fans, opening any windows, or turning on the air conditioning.
- Once the seizure is over, you should help the child to rest on their side, with their head tilted back.
References: Channel News Asia, asiaone
Also Read:
Emergency first aid for common household injuries: Important info for parents
First aid tips: febrile seizures
Basic first aid tips all parents should know
Better to prepare than panic: must-know first aid tips for your child’s wounds