incubation Still, a toy may hold a baby's interest for only five minutes before she needs to look at something different. As you play with your baby, you can see how long a game remains satisfying. The complexities of the game and the time it holds the child's attention will gradually increase. Preparing for emergencies In most situations involving your child's health, becoming knowledgeable about health and nutrition and obtaining the best professional advice you can on health matters will stand you in good stead. But there is always the chance of an emergency when no trained medical personnel are available and when a book-no matter how good- cannot answer your every question. LEARNING WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY Studies have shown that every person will be involved in an emergency situation at least twice in his life. In such a situation, knowing what to do-and what not to do-can mean the difference between life and death. That is why it is recommended that everyone (and especially every parent) should take a course in first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Such a course in CPR is available in virtually every town in the United States. Call your local chapter of the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross for further information. GETTING HELP IN AN EMERGENCY Knowing when to call for help is an important consideration in an emergency. In some situations, if you are the first person on the scene, your efforts must be devoted to the victim, and calling for medical assistance must wait until certain steps have been carried out or until a second person arrives. In less urgent situations, a call for help may be the appropriate first step. An approved firstaid class will teach you to differentiate between these situations. (The "Emergency Quick Reference" pages in this book will indicate when it is appropriate to summon help.) Knowing whom to call for help is the next consideration in an emergency. In general, don't waste time by calling your doctor-in a true emergency, his or her first instruction may well be to call an ambulance or paramedic squad. Post a list of emergency phone numbers near all phones in the house. That list should include the number for the paramedic squad, the local poison control center, the nearest major hospital with a fully equipped emergency department (ask your physician for a recommendation if you are uncertain), and the police and fire departments. Be certain that these phone numbers are current and accurate before you ever have to use them. If you do have to call one of those emergency numbers, remember to give all the necessary information-location, nature of the emergency, telephone number-before breaking the connection. Using this medical guide Each of the following sections is selfcontained and offers all the essential information on childhood conditions and emergencies that you should need, presented in a commonsense, readable manner and organized so as to be comprehensible and easily accessible. hand