I’m a first aid guru and here’s 2 simple steps every parent must take to spot life-threatening condition

IF you’re a parent, you could probably spend hours scrolling through your phone looking at photos and videos you took of your little one.

While it’s nice to look back at their evolution, one expert has said your camera roll could actually be put to good use.

1

Taking to the Tiny Hearts Education Instagram page, first aid guru Nikki Jurcutz posted that there are two simple steps all parents need to take to recognize a life-threatening condition — and all you need is your phone.

The expert posted a video of children struggling with their breathing on the social media page.

She said there are two things every parent needs to do to recognize when their child is short of breath.

The first is to capture a 30-second video of your child breathing on your phone.

“Then you’re going to use this video if your child ever gets sick and you need to see if their breathing is getting worse.”

The second is to take another video when your child is unwell and compare that to the first to see what is normal for your child.

Nikki said these tests can help you determine if your baby is having trouble breathing.

Some of the key signs, she said, are when they suck at their ribs, when their head bobs, or when they suck at their throat, also known as tracheal pull.

Types of shortness of breath include respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and NRDS.

In some cases, RSV can become life-threatening, the American Lung Association explains.

Some children under the age of two, especially those born prematurely or with heart disease, may have more serious consequences.

RSV can progress to bronchiolitis, an inflammatory infection of the lower airways that can make breathing difficult.

Bronchiolitis usually heals on its own after about two weeks and you can take care of your child at home like you would with a cold.

But up to three percent of babies who develop bronchiolitis in the first year of life require hospitalization.

The NHS says: “Around one in three children in the UK will develop bronchiolitis in their first year of life. Babies between the ages of three and six months are most commonly affected.

“By the age of two, nearly all infants are infected with RSV, and up to half have bronchiolitis.”

The early symptoms of bronchiolitis are similar to those of a common cold, but over a few days they can include a high temperature of 37.8°C or more (fever), a dry and persistent cough, difficulty eating, rapid or noisy breathing ( develop wheezing).

The NHS states that neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) is a serious condition where a newborn’s lungs are unable to get enough oxygen to their body.

Studies have previously shown that the condition is the leading cause of death in preterm babies, with the risk increasing depending on how early they were.

The NHS states it occurs when a baby’s lungs are not fully developed and unable to deliver enough oxygen, leading to difficulty breathing. It usually affects premature babies.

It is also known as infant respiratory distress syndrome, hyaline membrane disease or surfactant-deficient lung disease, the experts said.

The main symptoms to look out for are:

1. blue colored lips, fingers and toes
2. rapid, shallow breathing
3. flared nostrils
4. a grunting sound when breathing

If you’re not in hospital at the time of birth and notice your baby’s symptoms of NRDS, call 999 straight away and ask for an ambulance, the NHS says.