Moms, dads and caregivers learned about infant and toddler CPR and first aid recently at the Rockwood fire hall.
Hosted by the Guelph Eramosa Fire Department, with East Wellington Community Services (EWCS), 29 parents and caregivers in attendance were given a crash course on first aid tips for their little ones on Aug. 25.
“It’s kind of an informal infant and toddler CPR/first aid information session,” said Guelph-Eramosa deputy fire chief and seminar leader Jim Petrik.
“So what it’s typically targeted at is new moms that want to come get a little information in case something happens at home with the young one and they have a little bit of information on how to help the situation out, how to help their baby out or their infant or toddler.”
Petrik, a University of Guelph environmental sciences professor and instructor at McMaster University’s medical school, has been offering such seminars three or four times a year for the last six or seven years in the area.
“I’ve been to lots of kid calls before where something’s going wrong,” he said.
“And I always want to be able to provide an environment where the parents have a little bit of information so they can understand what’s going on, they’d be able to help and at least not make the situation worse or can be able to be a positive impact on the situation that’s going on.
“That’s why I love coming out and talking to the moms and dads … and providing some of that first aid CPR information.”
The seminar is not a certification, rather an information session.
“What I really hope is … they have a little bit of confidence and a little bit of background knowledge that if something goes wrong that they have some information that they can look back on so that it’s not as stressful as it could be,” he said.
Jane Wahl, children’s programing facilitator for EWCS, said the session is invaluable to parents and caregivers.
“Being a parent, it doesn’t come with a college or university degree so it’s all by trial and error,” she said. “We don’t know what we’re doing half the time.
“So we do need to reach out to these programs, these seminars, the Early Years programs, anything to help teach us about how to raise our children … encourage them, keep them empowered and keep them safe.”
The Aug. 25 session was also a great way for the community to connect with the fire hall, Petrik said.
“We’re here to help the community so the more that we can do as a fire department to interact, engage and make the community a safer place that’s what we’re about,” he said.
Admission to the seminar was by donation and raised $300.
The proceeds were then matched by the Guelph-Eramosa Fire Department. The $600 total will go back directly into EWCS children’s programs.
Though another session is not yet planned, those interested can keep an eye on the EWCS’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/east.wellington) or the meet-up page (http://www.meetup.com/EWCS-Childrens-Playgroups) for future dates.
