Thursday, August 11, 2016

How to of the Day

How to of the Day


How to Keep From Excessively Daydreaming

Posted: 11 Aug 2016 05:00 PM PDT

If your daydreaming is interfering with your day-to-day activities, it may be a sign that you need to improve your concentration and save your dreaming for nighttime. In order to reduce your daydreaming, it may help to first understand the extent and purpose of your daydreaming. Then, you can use daydream reduction techniques, increase your focus, and engage in activities that sustain your attention.

EditSteps

EditAnalyzing your Daydreaming Patterns

  1. Understand the purpose of your daydreaming. Knowing why you tend to daydream is crucial in learning how to change it. If you don't know why something is occurring (what the actual problem is) you may have more difficulty coming to a solution. Sometimes individuals daydream as a way to avoid stress or other painful feelings.[1] This imaginary world allows them to escape and avoid dealing with negative emotional states. Daydreaming can also be used as a way to self-soothe by imagining your wishes fulfilled.[2] In addition, fantasizing can be linked to a need to forget certain information (trauma, painful situations, etc). Daydreaming can actually result in forgetting previously learned information or memories.[3]
    Keep from Excessively Daydreaming Step 1 Version 3.jpg
    • Make a list of the types of daydreams you have, and what you think the function of this fantasy is. For example, you might identify that you frequently daydream about conversations with friends, which helps you predict what might happen and practice how to respond. Another example is if you have daydreams about buying a home, this may help you think of a brighter day and have hope for the future.
    • Ask yourself, "what is the purpose of my daydreaming in general?" Do you daydream to escape, distract, make yourself feel better, or pass the time?
  2. Recognize patterns in daydreaming. Understanding the patterns in fantasies you have may assist you in developing a skilled way to reduce each type of fantasy.[4] Do you daydream at school mostly, or at work? Are there certain situations that trigger your daydreaming behavior?
    Keep from Excessively Daydreaming Step 2 Version 3.jpg
    • Recognize how often you daydream. Set your alarm for one hour. Keep a tally of how many times you drifted off into a daydream for that hour. For example, the moment you notice you are daydreaming, write a tally mark on a piece of paper, and so on. This will increase your awareness of how much you actually daydream. Sometimes it may take you a few minutes to realize that you were in a daydream and that is okay, just tally each time you notice that you were drifting off.
  3. Identify the negative consequences. If your daydreaming results in difficulties in daily life such as disruption in work or school, interpersonal relationships, or personal obligations, then your daydreaming may be excessive and harmful. Unfortunately, a wandering mind can cause one to feel unhappy.[5]
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    • List the negative consequences associated with your rich fantasy life. This list could include things like: less time spent with family or friends, falling behind in school due to not being able to stay focuses, not being able to get all work done due to being distracted by daydreams, and friends and family feeling like I am not listening to them because I am daydreaming.

EditUsing Daydream Reduction Techniques

  1. Enhance awareness. You must first be aware of your daydreaming when it occurs in order to begin to change it. Once you have identified the purpose, patterns, and consequences of your daydreaming, it may be helpful to start noticing when you are daydreaming in the moment.[6]
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    • Signs you may be daydreaming include: losing eye contact with someone during a conversation, having difficulty focusing on your current task, not remembering what was just said in a conversation, thinking thoughts unrelated to the current situation, and having imaginary conversations with people or imagining events occurring in your head.
  2. Keep a daydreaming log. Once you have identified that you are daydreaming, stop immediately and write down what you were daydreaming about, as well as the time of day, situation or place you were in, and how long your mind was wandering.[7][8]This will help you become aware of when you daydream and will help you understand the patterns of your behaviors better.
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    • Question the utility of the daydream. Ask yourself, is this daydream helping me in some way?
  3. Set guidelines and limits for your daydreams. Certain types of daydreaming can lead to negative outcomes. For example, daydreaming about people whom you do not know very well can increase loneliness.[9] However, imagining people who are close to us can increase feelings of connection and satisfaction with life in general. [10]
    Keep from Excessively Daydreaming Step 6 Version 3.jpg
    • Choose boundaries that, when crossed, signal you to stop daydreaming. Some of them might include intimacy, spending large amounts of money, or extreme violence.
    • Sometimes when you are lost in your own dreams and it is wasting your time, just look at your watch. Keeping a watch is a reminder telling you that how precious it is for you make the most of this moment because it won't be back ever again!
  4. Focus your daydream. Mind-wandering can be used to self-reflect and work toward fulfilling personal goals.[11] Imagery and visualization techniques are common in therapy, especially in the treatment of anxiety and depression. In using visualization techniques, you can focus your daydream on something that will be helpful and relaxing for you.
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    • One example of an imagery exercise is to close your eyes and imagine yourself in a safe place.[12] This place may be a beach, your bedroom, a church or any place that you may feel safe, secure, and relaxed. Imagine how it feels in this place. Notice the temperature, the air, how your body feels, and what other sensations and feelings you have. Imagine what is smells like and sounds like in your safe place. Are there other people in your safe place? What are you doing in your safe place? Stay in your safe place until you are fully relaxed and ready to open your eyes.
    • Online resources can help guide you through imagery techniques.[13][14]
  5. Get up and move around. Right when you notice you are daydreaming, get up and do something active. This serves as a way to get some of your physical energy out, which may in turn, help your mind to re-focus and reduce daydreaming.[15]
    Keep from Excessively Daydreaming Step 8 Version 2.jpg
    • Try stretching. Reach for the sky as high as you can without feeling uncomfortable. Then spread your legs apart while standing and reach toward the ground (just as far as is comfortable for you).
    • You can do jumping jacks, run in place, or shake your arms. Try anything active that is safe and appropriate for the place and situation you are in.
  6. Reward yourself for being focused. Every time you are able to complete a task without falling into the daydreaming trap, give yourself a reward. This idea is based on positive reinforcement, a component of operant conditioning, and research has indicated that it increases positive behaviors (such as sustained attention).[16] It also gives you personal boundaries (that you will not do something fun until you complete your task), and something to look forward to (the reward).
    Keep from Excessively Daydreaming Step 9 Version 2.jpg
    • Try giving yourself something you like such as a piece of candy or another snack.
    • You can even give yourself a 5 minute break from your work as a reward.Taking appropriate breaks actually increases productivity overall. Use this time to do something you enjoy such as playing a game or texting a friend.
  7. Consider treatment. Excessive daydreaming can become a problem if it causes issues in your personal life such as difficulties in relationships, school, your ability to perform your job, or other daily activities. If this is the case, treatment can be a useful option.[17]
    Keep from Excessively Daydreaming Step 10 Version 2.jpg
    • Contact a psychologist (PsyD, PhD), marriage and family therapist (MFT), or psychiatrist (MD).

EditIncreasing Focus and Attention

  1. Try mindfulness exercises. If you are daydreaming, it means you are focusing on a fantasy or your own thoughts which are not necessarily related to what is currently going on around you. Mindfulness is about being present in the current moment.[18]
    Keep from Excessively Daydreaming Step 11 Version 2.jpg
    • Try to eat a piece of fruit that you enjoy while focusing on how it feels, looks, and tastes.
    • Use resources online to learn about mindfulness and try mindfulness techniques.[19]
  2. Use grounding techniques. Grounding helps you detach from emotional pain; it is useful especially when dealing with difficult situations and emotions and can serve as a healthy and useful replacement to daydreaming or fantasizing. Grounding can be done in any situation and at any moment that you choose, and it helps to re-focus your mind. Once you do the grounding exercise, go back to your original duty or task. You may find that you are better able to focus after using a specific grounding technique.
    Keep from Excessively Daydreaming Step 12.jpg
    • Name some of the different objects in the room and their different uses.
    • You could name some color or animals that you can think of.
    • Remember not to spend too much time doing the grounding technique, or you are simply using it as another form of daydreaming. Limit yourself to about 1 minute, and then go back to what you were previously doing.
  3. Get enough sleep. A lack of sleep quality has been associated with increases in daydreaming.[20] If you do not allow your mind to rest at night, it can become over-active during the day. Individuals with sleep issues also experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and medical problems.[21]
    Keep from Excessively Daydreaming Step 13.jpg
    • Develop a sleep schedule (a bedtime and wake-time) and sleep at least 8 hours per night.
    • Try relaxation and breathing techniques to help you fall asleep at night.
  4. Take a break. If you find your thoughts are distracting you, it may be helpful to take a break.[22] Sometimes when we are distracted it is an indication that we have been working too hard. Taking breaks can actually increase productivity overall, especially on brainstorming tasks.[23]
    Keep from Excessively Daydreaming Step 14.jpg
    • Try going for a walk or a stroll down the street.
    • Do something you enjoy for a few minutes, eat a snack, listen to music, or watch something on television.
  5. Involve both your body and mind. If you're someone who begins to daydream when you are not particularly engaged, such as sitting idly, try doing something somewhat active. Fidgeting may actually help individuals with attention issues concentrate better.[24][25]
    Keep from Excessively Daydreaming Step 15.jpg
    • Grab a pillow, stuffed animal, or stress ball that you can fiddle with.
    • Some people find that listening to music while working on simple tasks helps them focus.[26] It serves as a partial distraction for the mind, so it can focus on what is important.

EditEngaging in Activities that Sustain Your Attention

  1. Find new hobbies. Engage in fun activities that you can focus your attention on.
    Keep from Excessively Daydreaming Step 16.jpg
    • Do something that inspires you such as: hiking in a beautiful place, meditation, looking at art, etc.
    • Try exercise such as: biking, hiking, sports, dance, aerobics, and yoga.
    • Avoid activities that may increase daydreaming such as watch television excessively. Watching too much television could possibly lead to decreased creativity and increase daydreaming behaviors.[27]
  2. Talk to a friend or family member. Individuals with adequate social support tend to have higher mental health overall.[28] We need social support to deal with any issue, including excessive mind-wandering or distraction.
    Keep from Excessively Daydreaming Step 17.jpg
    • Pick someone that you know very well and feel very comfortable with. Then, ask them if they'd be available to answer their phone and chat with you if you've become particularly engrossed in a daydream.
    • You can ask friends or family to alert you if they notice that you are daydreaming. This will help to keep you accountable and increase your awareness of your attention-span.
  3. Plan less, do more. Planning can be a form of daydreaming because you spend a lot of time thinking about a situation and not much time accomplishing anything. It's time stop dreaming and start doing!
    Keep from Excessively Daydreaming Step 18.jpg
    • Have a schedule and stick to it. If you find yourself daydreaming, get up and leave the situation or do something productive.
    • If you drift into a daydream, gently bring yourself back to what you were doing before your mind wandered. Try to be accepting and non-judgmental of yourself.

EditTips

  • Follow your dreams. If you have a dream you know that you can reach, go for it! The pursuit of your dreams may keep the other ones at bay.

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EditSources and Citations


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How to Organize a Fundraiser

Posted: 11 Aug 2016 09:00 AM PDT

Organizing a successful fundraiser can be a colossal task, especially for an inexperienced planner. You'll need to plan every detail of your event, build a team to help you realize it, figure out your finances, and plan every part of your logistics and advertising. However, if you take the time to work through each of these steps beforehand, and bring on good help, you'll find that bringing a fundraiser to fruition can be a manageable process. Though each fundraiser will be different, use the following steps as a general guide for your own.

EditSteps

EditPlanning Your Event

  1. Set objectives. Your objectives are what you hope to achieve with your fundraiser. This may seem obvious, but your first step should be to answer exactly why you are doing the fundraiser. Are you spreading awareness for a cause? Are you trying to raise money for a certain type of research or project? Is it some combination of objectives? Define in the clearest possible terms exactly what you hope to achieve with your fundraiser.[1]
    Detect Depression in Yourself and Others Step 3.jpg
    • For example, imagine that you want to hold a fundraiser to raise money for cancer research. It's best to identify a specific type of cancer, research facility, or charity that you will donate money to. This can help target your efforts from here on out.
  2. Identify your audience. Decide who will be the focus of your marketing efforts. That is, what group of people are likely to want to donate to your cause? You can define your demographic by age, gender, interests, or anything other criteria you can imagine. The important thing is that you clearly define who this group is. This will allow you to tailor the rest of your planning and organizing to meet their needs.[2]
    Appreciate Your Life Step 3.jpg
    • Your target audience can also be groups, like families, or simply include everyone.
  3. Decide on a fundraiser type. First you need to decide what general category of fundraiser yours will fall into. Are you simply raising money for a cause through soliciting donations? Or will there be an event along with your fundraiser? An event can be anything from a dinner to a concert or race. There are virtually limitless options for what type of fundraiser you can organize.
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    • Choosing a creative and different fundraiser will improve the amount you raise. Bake sales and car washes work, but aren't that original. Completely original fundraisers will attract more people.
    • Another fundraiser type to consider is online crowdfunding through a platform like Kickstarter or Indiegogo. Campaigns on these websites are relatively easy to set up and can give you an easy way to offer rewards for different donation levels. In addition, sites like Causes and Crowdrise focus specifically on crowdfunding campaigns for non-profits.[3]
    • Your event should be specific to your audience. It may also reflect your own experience as a fundraiser and the cause you are supporting.[4]
    • For example, you could choose to organize a 5k run for your cancer research fundraiser. From here, you could add creative elements like making it a donut run or a paint run.
  4. Identify a deadline. If you are holding a fundraising event, you will have an obvious deadline in the date of the event. However, if you are organizing a fundraising effort online or soliciting donations in another way, you will have to set a deadline. This will motivate your team and donors to get donations in quickly. This will also inform other efforts, like getting rewards to donors (if applicable).[5]
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    • Consider creating multiple deadlines that correspond to different steps in the organizational process. This will create a sense of urgency that will help your team get motivated to reach each goal in time.
  5. Study other successful fundraisers of a similar type. Look back at other fundraisers in your area. Think about where they succeeded and what they could have done differently. Try asking around for others' thoughts on this matter. Make a list of what you come up with and use it to improve your own fundraiser design.[6]
    Live a Life Free from Constraints Step 3.jpg

EditBuilding a Team

  1. Seek out volunteers. Work in your church, workplace, or other community group to locate volunteers for your cause. Have people that you bring on spread the word to friends or family they think might be interested in helping out. If you need certain skills, like an accountant or advertiser, consider asking around for people known to have these skills.[7]
    Start a Successful Business Step 5.jpg
  2. Delegate authority. For large or more complicated fundraisers, it may be nearly impossible for you to make every decision yourself. For this reason, you should split up your responsibilities among a core group of trusted team members. For example, think about asking someone good with money to be in charge of the fundraiser's finances. Another person could be in charge of promotional efforts. For many segments of the fundraiser, you may need someone in charge so that you can coordinate the fundraiser as a whole without focusing on the smallest details.[8]
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  3. Split up tasks. Divide up tasks to different volunteers or groups of volunteers. This will not only increase your fundraiser's chance of success but also take some of the pressure off of you as you delegate complicated tasks to skilled volunteers. Just make sure that you have a structure in place for these different groups to coordinate with each other. To accomplish this, you might want to set up regular meetings of the entire fundraiser team.[9]
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    • Form a committee to make sure all the planning and gathering of materials is accomplished.
    • For example, for your charitable 5k, you might want to have one group in charge of post-race refreshments and another for setting up the course. These two groups would have to communicate to make sure there is enough room at the finish line for the refreshments.
  4. Think about other professionals you will need to have on site. For some types of fundraising events, you will need other professionals present to make sure that your events runs smoothly. For example, a concert would need sound and lighting technicians. Alternately, a 5k race would need medical professionals present in case any of the runners are injured. Think about your need for these individuals and incorporate the cost of bringing them on into your budget.[10]
    Supercharge Business Meetings Step 22 Version 3.jpg

EditFiguring Out Your Finances

  1. Define your fundraising goal. Your fundraising goal can be a highly subjective amount, after all, it's easy to just think, "I want to raise as much as possible." However, you should set a high but achievable goal. Think about similar events in your area from the past and analyze how much they raised. Then, set your goal a bit higher.[11]
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    • In some cases, a clear goal can be defined. For example, if you are raising money to build a school, you should have an estimate of the costs to do so and build your goal from there.
  2. Think about cost. If you decide to make it a public fundraising event, think about cost, sponsorship, and participation. An example would be a car wash, which is a very common fundraiser for youth groups and clubs. Cost would include soap, washcloths, and use of a facility to hold the event.
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    • If you host an expensive event, you will need equally expensive tickets to cover the cost.
    • You can go over on your donations, but not on your expenses. Be frugal in your planning.[12]
  3. Solicit sponsors. Sponsors can provide venues, refreshments, products, free services, or money to help your fundraiser. However, to get these sponsors you will have to convince them that your fundraiser will be successful and your cause is worthy of their effort. Think about local businesses that share your values and might be willing to support your fundraiser. Then, contact them by phone or in person and make your case.
    Appreciate Your Life Step 6.jpg
    • You may also be able to take advantage of contacts within your team to gain the support of business. Hold a brainstorming meeting with them to figure out potential sponsors.
    • Consider having sponsor levels (gold, silver, etc.) that reflect the amount of involvement sponsors have. They may be willing to pay more to have better placements of their logo around the event.[13]
    • For example, your charitable 5k could try contracting local cancer-focused charities, hospitals, and athletics stores around town. These organizations share a common interest with your cause and the people who will be attending your event.
  4. Figure out how you will accept money. When you start accepting donations, you will need a way or organizing and storing that money. For physical transactions (cash or check), you will need a charity bank account to store the money while it builds up. In addition, you can use the bank account to accept bank transfers from donors.
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    • For online donations, you will need to set up some way of accepting money electronically. This can be done through PayPal or through the use of a crowdfunding site like Kickstarter or Indiegogo.[14]

EditPlanning Logistics

  1. Pick a time and date for the event. Car washes, cookouts, and yard sales are more profitable and enjoyable in good weather, but they may not be suitable for mid-winter or the middle of summer in very hot locations. Attendance will be higher on Saturdays, but look at the community calendar to be sure no other event is planned for the day you choose that will have people busy doing other things while you are holding your fundraiser.[15]
    Set Decent Goals for a Certain Period of Time Step 6 Version 2.jpg
  2. Find a good location. Many retail businesses allow different groups to use their premises for car washes, bake sales, and other fundraising activities if they are compatible with their values and they support what you are working for. For other types of events, like concerts or carnivals, make sure you have enough space for setting up your event.[16]
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  3. Create schedules. Create a schedule for the day of the fundraiser, with each individual event having its own well-defined start and end. In addition, you should also create a schedule for getting tasks done leading up to the date of the event. For example, pick a day where you want to have your sponsors in and a later date for printing sponsorship banners.[17]
    Supercharge Business Meetings Step 6 Version 3.jpg
  4. Plan for following through. What following through refers to will depend on the nature of your fundraiser. For a purely donation-based fundraiser, your follow through would be contacting donors personally to thank them. For an event, on the other hand, you would need to specify who will stick around afterwards to help clean up.[18]
    Appreciate Your Life Step 6.jpg

EditGetting the Word Out

  1. Make use of the internet. The internet is the best resource for reaching large groups of people at low cost. For starters, every fundraiser should have a Facebook page that is filled out with relevant information and updated regularly. Then, you can use Twitter or Instagram to further spread the word and connect with potential donors. For more advanced fundraisers, consider creating a website that includes a donation link.
    Get Into Journalism Step 14.jpg
    • You may be able to get help from a local website designer at a lower price if they believe in your cause. This will allow you to have a professional website without the cost.[19]
  2. Advertise. This can mean placing signs around town and at community bulletin boards, spreading information through word of mouth, or talking to broadcast media to see what type of advertising they offer. Many radio stations and local television outlets have community bulletin boards and public service announcements for nonprofit groups.[20]
    Get Into Journalism Step 13.jpg
  3. Get help from local businesses and organizations. Ask sponsors and other local businesses to help spread the word by buying up some of your tickets or posting a poster for your event in their shop. Other businesses may be able to help you in other ways; you won't know how until you ask.[21]
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  4. Enlist the help of your team. Your team can be a great resource in getting the word out. Tell them to talk about the fundraiser whenever possible and make an effort to let their friends know about the event. In addition, they can email faraway acquaintances that may be interested and post about the fundraiser on social media. Any way that they can get the word out will only help your cause.[22]
    Change Your Life After Doing the Same Thing for So Long Step 5.jpg

EditWarnings

  • Bake sales and cookouts should be managed so that the food is safe and handled properly.
  • Make sure you are not breaking local laws with your efforts.
  • If your efforts involve door to door sales, travel in teams for safety.

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How to Do CPR on a Child

Posted: 11 Aug 2016 01:00 AM PDT

Though CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) should be administered by individuals trained at a certified first aid course, lay bystanders can also make a significant difference in the survival of children undergoing cardiac arrest. For youth under one years of age, follow infant CPR protocol and for adults, follow adult protocol. Basic CPR involves chest compressions, airway opening and rescue breathing. If you are not formally trained in CPR, it is recommended that you use compression-only.

EditSteps

EditAssessing the Situation

  1. Check the scene for danger. If you come across someone who is unconscious, you need to quickly make sure there are no dangers to yourself if you choose to help them. Is there a car exhaust running? A gas stove? Is there a fire? Are electrical lines down? If there is anything that could endanger you or the victim, see if there is something you can do to counteract it. Open a window, turn off the stove, or put out the fire if possible.
    Do CPR on a Child Step 1.jpg
    • However, if there is nothing you can do to counteract the danger, move the victim. The best way to move the victim is by placing a blanket or a coat underneath her back and pulling on the coat or blanket.
    • If there is a chance the person has suffered a spinal injury two people should move her to prevent any twisting of the head and neck.[1]
  2. Check the victim for consciousness. Shake or tap his shoulder and saying in a loud, clear voice, "Are you okay? Are you okay?" If he responds, he is conscious. He may have just been sleeping, or he could have been unconscious. If it still appears to be an emergency situation — for example, he is having trouble breathing or he appears to be fading in between consciousness and unconsciousness — call for help and begin basic first aid and take measures to prevent or treat shock.
    Do CPR on a Child Step 2.jpg
  3. Check the victim's pulse. If the child is unresponsive, the first thing to do is check her pulse.[2] If the child does not respond, you need to begin CPR immediately. Do not check the pulse for more than 10 seconds. If the victim does not have a pulse, her heart is not beating and you will be required to perform chest compressions.[3]
    Do CPR on a Child Step 3.jpg
    • To check the neck (carotid) pulse, feel for a pulse on the side of the victim's neck closest to you by placing the tips of your first two fingers beside the Adam's apple. (Be aware that the Adam's apple is usually not visible on a female, and may not even be very visible on a boy who has not yet gone through puberty.)
    • To check the wrist (radial) pulse, place your first two fingers on the thumb side of the victim's wrist.
    • Other pulse locations are the groin and ankle. To check the groin (femoral) pulse, press the tips of two fingers into the middle of the groin. To check the ankle (posterior tibial) pulse, place your first two fingers on the inside of the ankle.
  4. Understand the importance of reacting quickly. If you see someone whose heart has stopped beating or has stopped breathing, reacting quickly and performing rescue breathing and CPR could save his life. When someone starts CPR before an ambulance arrives, the patient has a considerably better chance of surviving.[4] Being able to respond quickly by performing CPR, which can help get oxygenated blood back flowing to the brain, is essential.
    • If the person has a pulse but is not breathing, only perform rescue breathing, not chest compressions.
    • A human brain can typically go for around four minutes without oxygen before suffering permanent brain damage.
    • If the brain goes without oxygen for between four and six minutes the chances of brain damage rise.
    • If the brain lacks oxygen for six to eight minutes brain damage is probable.
    • If the brain is without oxygen for over ten minutes, brain death is probable.[5]

EditPerforming CPR

  1. Perform CPR for two minutes. Once you have quickly assessed the situation and checked the consciousness and circulation of the victim you need to act very quickly. If there is no pulse you must begin CPR immediately, and continue it for two minutes (which is about five cycles of CPR) and then call for Emergency Medical Services.[6] If you are alone it is important to start CPR before calling for help.
    Do CPR on a Child Step 4.jpg
    • If someone else is there send them for help. If you are alone, do not call until you have completed two minutes of CPR.[7]
    • Dial your local emergency number. Call 911 in North America, 000 in Australia, 111 in New Zealand, 112 by cell phone in the EU (including the UK) and 999 in the UK.
    • If possible, send someone else to get an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) if there is one in the building or nearby.
  2. Remember CAB. CAB is the basic process of CPR. It stands for Chest Compressions, Airway, Breathing. In 2010, the recommended sequence changed with chest compressions placed before airway opening and rescue breathing. Chest compressions are more critical for correcting abnormal heart rhythms (ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia), and because one cycle of 30 chest compressions only requires 18 seconds, airway opening and rescue breathing are not significantly delayed.[8]
    Do CPR on a Child Step 5.jpg
    • Chest compressions, or hands-only CPR is recommended if you have not been properly trained or are worried about performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a stranger.[9]
  3. Position your hands for the compressions. When performing CPR on a child the positioning of your hands is especially important, given that a child will be more fragile than an adult. Locate the child's sternum by moving two fingers to the bottom of the rib cage. Identify where the lower the ribs meet in the middle and then place the heel of your other hand on top of your fingers. Just use the heel of this hand to do the compressions.[10]
    Do CPR on a Child Step 6.jpg
  4. Perform 30 compressions. Compress the chest, with elbows locked, by pushing straight down about deep. The smaller body of a child needs less pressure than an adult would. If you begin to hear or feel a cracking sound, that may indicate that you are pushing too hard. Continue, but apply less pressure with the compressions.[11] Do 30 of these compressions, and do them at a rate of at least 100 compressions per minute if you are the only rescuer.
    • Allow complete chest recoil after each compression.[12]
    • Minimize pauses in chest compression that occur when changing providers or preparing for a shock. Attempt to limit interruptions to less than 10 seconds.
    • If there are two rescuers, each should complete a round of 15 compressions.
  5. Make sure the airway is open. Place your hand on the victim's forehead and two fingers on his chin. Lift the chin gently with the two fingers while carefully pushing down on the forehead with your other hand. If you suspect a neck injury, gently pull the jaw upward rather than lifting the chin.[13] Once you have done this you should look, listen and feel for breathing.
    Do CPR on a Child Step 7.jpg
    • Put your ear close to the victim's mouth and nose and listen carefully for any signs of life.
    • Watch for chest movement and feel for any breath on your cheek.[14]
    • If there are no signs of life, place a breathing barrier (if available) over the victim's mouth.
  6. Give two rescue breaths. Keeping the airway open, take the fingers that were on the forehead and pinch the victim's nose closed. Make a seal with your mouth over the victim's mouth and breathe out for about one second. Make sure you breathe slowly, as this will make sure the air goes in the lungs not the stomach. Make sure you keep your eye on the victim's chest.
    Do CPR on a Child Step 9.jpg
    • If the breath goes in, you should see the chest slightly rise and also feel it go in. If the breath goes in, give a second rescue breath.[15]
    • If the breath does not go in, reposition the head and try again.[16] If it does not go in again, the victim may be choking. You'll need to do more chest compressions in this case. Keep in mind abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich manuever) should only be performed on someone who is conscious.
  7. Repeat the cycle of 30 chest compressions and two breaths. You should do CPR for two minutes (five cycles of compressions to breaths) before checking for signs of life, a pulse or breathing. Continue CPR until someone takes over for you; emergency personnel arrive; you are too exhausted to continue; an AED is attached, charged, and the person running it asks you to clear the body; or pulse and breathing return.[17]
    Do CPR on a Child Step 10.jpg
    • Don't forget to call the emergency services after the first two minutes of CPR.
    • After you call them, continue to administer CPR until they arrive.
  8. Use an AED. If an AED becomes available, turn on the AED, place the pads as instructed (one over the right chest and another over the left side). Allow the AED to analyse the rhythm, and give one shock if indicated, after clearing everyone from the patient (yell "CLEAR!" first). Resume chest compressions immediately after each shock for another 5 cycles before reassessing.[18]
    Do CPR on a Child Step 11.jpg

EditTips

  • Always call Emergency Medical Services.
  • If you must move the victim, try to disturb the body as little as possible.
  • You can get guidance on correct CPR technique from an emergency services operator if needed.
  • If you are unable or unwilling to perform rescue breathing, engage in compression-only CPR with the victim. This will still aid the victim in recovering from cardiac arrest.
  • Get proper training from a qualified organization in your area. Training from an experienced instructor is the best way to be prepared in an emergency.
  • Don't forget to place your hands in the middle of the breastbone at the level of the nipples.

EditWarnings

  • Do not move the patient unless they are in immediate danger or are in a place that is life threatening.
  • Remember that CPR is different for adults, children and infants; this CPR is meant to be administered to a child.
  • Always wear gloves and use a breathing barrier when possible to make transmission of diseases less likely.
  • Be sure to survey the scene for danger before you attempt to administer CPR.
  • If the person has normal breathing, coughing, or movement, do not begin chest compressions. Doing so may cause the heart to stop beating. [19]

EditRelated wikiHows

EditSources and Citations


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