Vital First Aid tips for parents!

Mums Tips

Baby & Toddlers

Published on Monday, 15 February 2021 14:09

Last Updated on 15 February 2021

Emma Hammett

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Keeping your loved one safe: Unfortunately, children are extremely likely to become injured from some form of accident at home.  

RoSPA report that around 6,000 people die from accidents at home every year. 

One of the most distressing elements is that most of these accidents could have been prevented. Learning basic first aid can help you recognise possible accident hotspots and understand how to better protect your child at home.

We would never advocate wrapping your child in cotton wool. However, basic precautions to keep them safe, along with the knowledge of what to do if an accident does happen, will make a difference. Although most are thankfully minor, it’s critical to know what to do if an accident or injury is more serious. 

The national “Save a Life Survey” involving over 2,000 people, showed that 1/3 of parents have had to rush their child to hospital at some point.

The following CAPT (Child Accident Prevention Trust) statistics are alarming:

• • Every day, more than 30 babies and toddlers are treated in hospital because of a scald from a hot drink.  That’s over 10,000 babies and toddlers a year!
  • 95% of all childhood burns and scalds happen at home. 
  • 15 young children are admitted to hospital every day because they’ve swallowed something poisonous
  • Each year, around 27,000 children aged 5-14 are admitted to hospital after a fall.

 

Why are first aid skills so important?

First aid knowledge is vital because it can help prevent accidents as well as giving you the skills to help when they occur. Prompt and appropriate first aid saves lives, prevents minor injuries becoming major ones and can reduce the amount of pain and scarring a child suffers. It can also give you peace of mind that you would be competent helping in those first vital minutes.

Children are naturally curious and have no concept of risk. Consequently, accidents are likely to happen. 

 

Click here for a free e-book on Essential First Aid for All Parents  

 

The 3 most common medical emergencies

Choking 

For a baby:

 

Click here for an online First Aid for Babies course

 

For a child:

Burns and scalds 

Burns can be extremely painful, but prompt first aid can relieve the pain and scarring drastically. 

1. Immediately, very carefully remove loose clothing covering the burn. But do NOT remove clothing if there’s a chance that the skin has stuck to them or if the skin has blistered
2. For all burns you should treat them immediately with cool running water for a full 20 minutes.
3. Reassure your child and keep them warm and dry
4. Phone an ambulance if the burnt area is larger than a 50p coin and if the skin is broken or blistered, or if the child is showing signs of shock

It’s important to never touch the burn, pop blisters or put on any creams whatsoever

 

Head injuries 

Babies and children often bang their heads and it can be hard to assess how seriously they are hurt. 

If your child becomes unconscious or won’t stop crying, complains of head or neck pain and isn’t walking normally following a head injury you should call 999 or 112 immediately. 

If the child is behaving normally following a head injury you should:

1. 1. Apply a wrapped ice pack or instant cold pack to the injured area for 10 minutes. 
   2. Observe your child carefully for the next 24 hours. If you notice any worrying signs get medical help immediately. 

• If the incident has occurred close to bedtime or nap time and your child falls asleep soon afterwards, check in continually to look for anything unusual (twitching limbs or disturbances in colour or breathing)

 

It is perfectly ok for your child to go to sleep (so long as they are not showing any signs of concussion and there is no risk of confusing tiredness with losing consciousness) – there is no need to keep a child awake after a head injury. 

 

 

About us

Written by Emma Hammett for First Aid for Life

Award-winning first aid training tailored to your needs and importantly Covid secure – Please visit our site and learn more about our practical and online courses. It is vital to keep your skills current and refreshed.

It is strongly advised that you attend a fully regulated Practical or Online First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency. Please visit https://firstaidforlife.org.uk or call 0208 675 4036 for more information about our courses. 

First Aid for Life is a multi-award-winning, fully regulated first aid training provider. Our trainers are highly experienced medical, health and emergency services professionals who will tailor the training to your needs. Courses for groups or individuals at our venue or yours.

First Aid for life provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. First Aid for Life is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information.