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First aid tips for parents

13th April 2018

Last month we covered the topic ‘5 First Aid Lessons to Teach Children’ and this month, we’re here to share all important first aid tips with you, parents. Regardless of whether it’s your first born baby, second or third – the chances are – you will need to make yourself familiar and up-to-date with basic first aid. As living beings, it’s natural to experience trips and falls, so to keep your children happy and healthy by brushing up on these first aid tips today!

First aid for children and babies:

Asthma

What is it?

It is a medical condition that restricts the airflow to the lungs, this occurs when the tubes entering the lungs become narrow. When this happens, it becomes very difficult to breathe in and out.

How do I know if my child is having an asthma attack?

A child can generally let you know if they are having difficulties breathing, however, should you notice coughing, wheezing and distressed behaviour, it’s likely that they are having an asthma attack. You might also notice their lips, ears and/or nails turn a grey-blue colour – this is known as cyanosis.  

What do I need to do?

  • Reassure them, tell them to breathe slowly so that they’re back in control of breathing.
  • Help them with their inhaler.
  • Have them sit comfortably and upright, so their chest is open.
  • If you do not see a difference in their behaviour within a few minutes, give them another one to two puffs of their inhaler every other minute, you can do this up to 10 puffs.
  • If this is a severe attack and nothing seems to be working, call 999 for an ambulance.
  • While the ambulance is on the way, keep them using their inhaler if they require it and check on their pulse and keep them responsive.
  • If they do become unresponsive but are still breathing you must firstly, open their airway, check to ensure they are breathing normally and put them in the recovery position.
  • If your child is unresponsive and not breathing, you need to perform CPR.

Bumps & bruises

What is it?

A bump can happen anytime from a trip or fall and sometimes it can leave an egg-shaped lump on the body. When this happens you will want to reduce the swelling and or bruising.

What do I need to do?

If the affected area is painful, swollen or infected you must take your child to the doctor. However, if the bump or bruise doesn’t seem to have bothered them and it doesn’t look bad, you can apply ice wrapped in a towel for 10-15 minutes. You might also want to elevate the area – if possible – to raise the injury above the heart as this will reduce any swelling.

Burns

What is it?

A burn is an injury caused by heat or an open flame. Burns can cause redness, swelling, blistering and peeling of the skin. When a burn occurs it kills the immediate skin cells and burns the layers underneath.

What do I need to do?

When a burn occurs, you must run it under cold water for at least 10 minutes, this will help to reduce, pain, scarring and swelling. After you have cooled the burn it’s important to wrap it to prevent infection – this can be done with cling film. With any serious burns, you will want to go to a doctor and of course, call 999 if a burn requires immediate medical attention.

Choking

What is it?

Choking happens when your airways are blocked and this can make you unable to breathe.

What do I need to do?

Babies are notorious for eating things they shouldn’t and biting down on anything they can get their hands. Most of the time your baby will cough and manage to get the blockage up themselves but on the occasion they are unable to do so, you must:

  • Pick them up and support their head.
  • Position them along the length of your forearm, resting on your knee with their face down, towards the ground.
  • With a firm palm, firmly pat your child across the middle of their shoulder blades.
  • Repeat this until the object is removed.
  • If this doesn’t work, turn your baby on their back and use two fingers to push down on the centre of their chest, this will force air up through the lungs and out (like a forced cough) and push the object out of the way.
  • If none of these techniques work, call 999 and continue until help arrives.

Dehydration

What is it?

This happens when the child loses more water than he/she consumes and occurs more frequently to children than adults, especially after exercise or simply being out on a hot day – so it’s important that they drink plenty of fluids to remain hydrated.

Signs of dehydration

  • Headaches
  • Fainting
  • Dry mouth, eyes and lips
  • Dark urine
  • Cramp

What do I need to do?

Have your child sit down and drink plenty of water. You will also want to give them an oral rehydration solution that will work to replace the salts and minerals that have been lost. If they’re still feeling unwell, take them to the hospital immediately, they might need a drip to replace and balance their water levels.

Fever

What is it?

When the body’s temperature fluctuates below or above 37°c it is called a fever. A fever in a child can be very worrying as they can develop rashes and feel hot to the touch and alternatively they can become very pale and feel cold.

What do I need to do?

If you notice a difference in temperature, you must:

  • Check their temperature: using an electronic thermometer, place it under their armpit to get a reading.
  • 999 – call emergency services for help.
  • Keep them comfortable – don’t dress them in too many layers and don’t take off all items of clothing either.
  • Hydrate them – if your child breastfeeds, do this regularly. If your baby is no longer doing so, offer them water. If your baby is in distress, give them their recommended dose of paracetamol.
  • Monitor – keep an eye on their breathing, response level and temperature, whilst help is on the way.

You can never be too cautious when it comes to children, remember to always check and monitor them should you notice any difference in their behaviour, response level, breathing or temperature. If you are concerned take them to a doctor or call 999.

Here at Tiny World Day Nursery, we have a wealth of experience caring for babies and children. We’re here to help your children play, learn and develop social skills. We can be found in Nottingham and Mansfield on Stockhill Lane, Arnold Road and Layton Avenue. Give our friendly team a call for more information!

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