GRAHAM Jones, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, is backing a campaign for parents to check for warning signs of possible heart problems in babies.
The campaign by the Children’s Heart Federation, the UK’s leading children’s heart charity, is also urging parents to follow life-saving guidance.
Mr Jones said: “This campaign ‘Think HEART’, is an important campaign by the Children’s Heart Federation to increase the early diagnosis of children’s heart conditions. Think HEART provides parents with five easy signs to help to spot a heart problem.”
These include checking if the heart and breathing rate is too fast or too slow. A normal heart rate is between 100 to 160 beats per minute, and normal respiration is between 40 and 60 breaths per minute.
It also urges parents to check if their child has enough energy, or if they are quiet and too tired to feed, and keeping an eye on the baby’s appearance, or if it is pale, waxy, dusky, blue or grey colour. And finally, the child’s temperature, if they are cold to touch, particularly their hands and feet.
Mr Jones said: “I am also backing the Children’s Heart Federation’s campaign for all babies to be tested for heart conditions at birth to help save lives.”
To get involved with the Think HEART campaign, visit www.chfed.org.uk/thinkheart.
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