DARE X Mummyfique X Motherswork

#mummyfiqueworld #learnwithmw

Mummyfique is a digital magazine that seeks to inspire and educate mummies. They first interviewed me in 2015 when we discussed work-life balance and our DARE progamme: https://mummyfique.com/mumswelove-dr-jade-kua/. Since then, they’ve been a strong supporter of our programme. This weeklong event, co-organized by Motherswork, was held at Great World City. From 13-19 August, there were educational talks about feeding babies, toddler safety and play therapy. As mine was on Sunday, I brought M3 & M5 along. Motherswork boss, Sharon Wong, was present and I was glad to introduce her to my girls.

Ask Me Anything

Why should laypeople learn CPR?

I started with a short talk explaining the premise behind bystanders starting CPR for cardiac arrest victims. In summary, it is important to call 995 and stay on the line for dispatcher-assisted CPR because death can occur within minutes. The fastest ambulance in the world won’t get there before the bystander so we shouldn’t hesitate to start chest compressions. My favorite part about giving talks is always the question & answer session. It’s fun when the audience is engaged.

Does Singapore have a Good Samaritan Law?

Somebody asked about whether we have a Good Samaritan Law in Singapore. I was glad to share that this dispatcher-assisted first responder programme (DARE) is approved by the Ministry of Health and Singapore Civil Defence Force. As long as bystanders stay on the line with our trained specialists, they needn’t fear about making decisions on their own. Also, the Singapore legal system protects bystanders who act in good faith, so we should be proactive about helping others.

Don’t victims need mouth-to-mouth ventilation?

A gentleman asked why we don’t teach mouth-to-mouth ventilation. I was glad he asked this question. The latest research tells us in an urban medical setting like Singapore, where the ambulance comes in 8-12 minutes, there is time to wait for paramedics to give oxygen. In the meantime, there is enough oxygen in the casualty’s body. We just need chest compressions to help push it to the brain. But this is for adult victims of witnessed cardiac arrest. I agreed with the gentleman that children and drowning victims need ventilation from the beginning.

How To Do CPR

For my demo, M3 helped me out. You can see her position in the following pictures:

1. Interlocked fingers at the centre of the chest.
2. Straight elbows.
3. Leans in with shoulders over hands to use her body weight.

Not to be left out, M5 volunteered to help too. She demonstrated three things:

1. Continue chest compressions even when the AED pads are being applied. Only pause when the AED instructs you to stay clear.
2. In between compressions, let the chest go back to its original position. Full recoil allows the heart to fill with oxygen-rich blood.
3. Children can learn CPR too. Even if they can’t achieve the full depth, they can at least learn the position so it’s easier when they’re older.

Presently, the audience volunteered to practice CPR and use an AED. Everyone was able to figure out how to plug in an AED and place the pads without help. You see, the AED has clear pictorial instructions and voice prompts.