In life, a lot is at stake, yet studies seem to show that the majority of people freeze up in a medical emergency. This is mainly because they don’t know how to react and are too unsure to try to help.
Much can be at stake in day-to-day life. Yet research reveals that most individuals freeze in a medical emergency due to not knowing what to do and lacking confidence to assist. The good news is that first aid skills are not difficult to learn, and learning them will make you more confident in what you can do.
So, what are the first aid skills that every parent must know? This guide will provide the basic overview of what you should know, and provide some necessary tools to allow you to keep those you love as safe as possible.
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Key First Aid Techniques for Common Childhood Injuries
Knowing When to Get Professional Help
While you can treat most issues at home and most bumps and scrapes are minor and easy to treat, you need to know the warning signs of more serious issues that need prompt medical attention. If your child:
is having difficulty breathing or swallowing, is unconscious, has severe burns, or is bleeding heavily, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance or local emergency services.
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Minor Cut and Scrape Care Wash the wound with mild soapy warm water. Put an antiseptic on it and cover it with a clean bandage. Monitor for infection, i.e., redness, swelling, or fever over the next couple of days.
Care of Burns and Scalds
If your child sustains a minor scald or burn, cool the burned area with running water for at least 20 minutes but not with ice. Cover with a clean, non-sticky dressing. If the burn is bigger than your child’s hand, get professional medical help right away.
What to Do if Your Child is Choking
Watching your child choke is perhaps the most frightening thing a parent can witness. For a baby over one year (or an adult), stand behind the victim and hit their back five times between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. If this doesn’t clear the airway, do up to five chest thrusts.
Position the heel of your hand on the lower end of the breastbone and help to brace the back of the person with each push.
For a child less than one year old, place the child face down on your forearm and let gravity help. Tip the baby’s head down so that it is lower than their body to open the airway.
If you need to proceed, do five strong blows to the back and five chest presses with two fingers. If this doesn’t dislodge the object, obtain emergency help. To prevent choking, prevention is best. Despite our fast-paced schedules, take a minute or two to make your child’s playpen or play area free from any objects small enough to harm your child.
The Proper Way to Treat Sprains
In order to cure sprains, the proper technique is RICE. RICE is an acronym for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Following is a simple explanation of the RICE technique: Rest: Let the injured part rest so that it does not worsen and the body can start healing. Cut down on physical activity so that the injured part can keep healing. Ice: Apply an ice pack to the affected area for 15-20 minutes, every 2-3 hours for the first 48 hours following the injury, to minimize pain and swelling. Compression: use bandages or wraps to help decrease swelling and immobilize the area. Compression should be firm enough to be effective, but not firm enough to cut off circulation. Elevation: Raise your injured limb above your heart as much as possible. This will reduce swelling and permit fluid to flow away from the injury. It should also reduce pain and enable you to heal faster.
Please keep in mind that unless the home situation improves, patients need to have a check-up with a doctor.
First Aid For Fractures
If you think that your child might have a broken bone, do the following:
Immobilize the Injured Part:
Prevent movement to avoid further injury. Immobilize the fracture by restraining the injury with a splint.
If possible, encourage the child to hold their injury in their hand or immobilize it using soft objects.
Control External Bleeding:
If there is any additional bleeding, then you should apply pressure and cover the wound.
Use Cold Therapy:
Apply an ice pack or a plastic bag of ice wrapped in a towel. Apply it to the injured area for up to 10 minutes at a time. This will decrease swelling and pain.
Lift the painful limb:
Elevate the injured limb to a position higher than the heart to combat the development of oedema, or swelling, and drain fluid away from the injury.
Ask for Medical Help:
Through the application of these first aid treatment for fractures, the child can be comforted more and both pain and swelling can be minimized. But it is very important that the fractures are examined and treated by a medical specialist. Always bring your child for medical care as soon as possible.
Managing Medical Emergencies: The Skills to Save Lives
CPR for Children and Infants: A Life-Saving Skill
Learning CPR is essential for all parents. The procedure may vary depending on the age of the child, so it’s a good idea to practice your CPR regularly with certified first aid training, such as First Aid Pro’s First Aid Course in Canberra, to ensure you are always prepared.
CPR and Rescue Breathing for Children (Ages 1 through 12 years)
When you arrive at the scene: Use the DRS ABCD action plan and make the environment safe.
Check for consciousness in the child: Gently tap the child on the shoulder and say his/her name. If There Is No Response: Call triple zero (000) immediately. If the child is face down, roll him/her onto their back and place a firm, flat surface under him/her.
Look for Signs of Breathing and Life: Watch the child’s chest to see whether it is rising on its own. Look for any sign of life or breathing for up to 10 seconds.
If someone is not breathing or has no signs of life, start CPR:
Put one hand on the middle of your chest and place the other hand over it. Lock your arms and straighten your elbows. Lean forward over the child’s chest and push down two inches deep. Do this 30 times, at a pace of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Administer the rescue breaths following each 30 chest presses. To do this, tilt the child’s head back and lift their chin. Close their nose by pinching it. Cover their mouth with yours and provide two slow, steady breaths such that their chest rises. Keep repeating the cycle of 30 chest presses and two breaths.
Continue with the CPR until the other assistant comes to replace you, the patient regains consciousness, or until the emergency services arrive.
Management of Severe Allergic Reactions
You should be aware of the signs of anaphylaxis, including trouble breathing, tongue and lip swelling, and rash, if your child has a serious allergy. Always carry an EpiPen with you and know how to use it. Give the child the EpiPen as soon as symptoms start, then get medical attention.
Use Correct Injection Technique: Administer the epinephrine injection into the outer midpoint of the thigh muscle and keep it in place for a few seconds prior to its removal. This will help you get the proper dose of medication. Awareness and response to concussion symptoms. Following a head injury, closely monitor your child for headache, confusion, dizziness, and vomiting. If you notice any of these symptoms or if the child has lost consciousness, even for a short time, get medical help right away. Incorporating First Aid Techniques into Your Active Lifestyle Leading registered training organisations like First Aid Pro provide nationally recognised training for busy professionals and parents working with children. Their courses teach an extensive variety of emergencies in detail so that you will be ready to respond confidently in all kinds of first aid situations. Maximize your time by fitting first aid training into your daily life. Fast, online refresher courses can give you fast and easy information and training, keeping you ready without taking up too much of your time. Look at the great options for online first aid and online CPR training at First Aid Pro today and get ready for any situation. Conclusion One of the greatest things a busy parent can do to help keep the family safe is to know some basic first aid and to keep a basic first-aid kit on hand. With first aid training, you acquire new skills and confidence to act in cases that can harm your loved ones. Yes, some emergencies are frightening, but if you have the right first aid information, you will instinctively know what to do. You will also help others to feel calmer and more confident.