Prevent a tragedy: ProAction offers baby safety training for caregivers
September is Baby Safety Month, a time to help parents and caregivers prevent unintentional injuries.
ProAction in El Paso is hosting a training class for parents, grandparents, older siblings, babysitters — any child caregiver — to learn how to prevent an accident that can quickly turn into a tragedy.
ProAction says emergencies like choking, an injury, or a medical emergency are situations many parents never expect to face.
But, when something does happen, sometimes there's only seconds to respond.
More than 1,200 babies died from unintentional injuries in the U.S. back in 2024, according to The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.
Now, anyone who cares for young children can learn infant CPR, choking response and first aid in their training class on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
"We never know what the emergency is going to be," says Paloma Leyva, ProAction's Medical Director. "Obviously we need to know as caregivers and parents, the best way to respond, and this is going to help you go ahead and maintain that control of the scene and make sure that you react properly to your child, and this will help you get training from proper personnel."
They also emphasize, anyone who takes care of a child should childproof their home – something only parents usually think about.
Make sure all cabinets are locked, and medications or hazardous liquids are out of reach for children.
A lot of things can be choking hazards, but adults or siblings might not know what to do in the moment.
The CDC says suffocation, including choking, asphyxiation and strangulation, is the lead cause of unintentional death for children younger than one year old.
This is why ProAction says a class like this can be so important for those who need life-saving skills.
"What we're trying to do is make it more feasible for parents and people that are underwage to be able to afford this class," says Leyva. "This class gives you the certificate and the knowledge... it enables us to give you that training to be able to respond."
The training class is on September 15 at 2 p.m.
It costs $30 per person to attend.
