Children's first aid

Knowing the basics in first aid can save a life in an emergency and I think that it is important that everyone should know the basics. It is definitely well worth learning especially if you have children, we all know how mischievous they can be! I'm blogging about it to raise awareness and to have the information fresh in my mind and at hand if ever I may need it.

The following examples show it only takes a few minutes to learn new skills that could save a baby’s life.

In an emergency:

Call for help, and try to work as calmly and quickly as you can.

1. Check if the baby is conscious. 
Can you get a response? Talk to him or call his name, and try tapping him gently on the sole of his foot. If there is no response you need to check for breathing.
2. Open the airway: Place one hand on his forehead and gently tilt his head back. Then using your other hand use one finger to lift the baby’s chin.
3. Take a quick look and remove any visible obstructions from his mouth and nose.
4. Look, listen and feel for normal breathing: Place your face next to the baby’s face and listen for breathing, at the same time look along his chest and abdomen for any movement. You may also be able to feel the baby’s breath on your cheek. Allow up to 10 seconds to check if your baby is breathing or not.
5. If the baby is not breathing:

• If another person is present, ask them to call an ambulance straight away.
• If you are alone give 1 minute of CPR then take your baby with you to call an ambulance.

How to do CPR

This valuable skill could save your baby's life:

1. Place your baby on a firm surface. Open his airway by placing one hand on his forehead and gently tilting his head back, then with your other hand use one finger to lift the baby’s chin.
2. Place your mouth over the baby’s mouth and nose and – by blowing steadily – attempt 5 initial rescue breaths.
3. Place 2 fingers in the middle of his chest and press down one third of the depth of the chest. After 30 chest compressions give 2 rescue breaths.
4. Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths until emergency help arrives.

Recovery Position

If a baby is unconscious but breathing, the safest position to hold a baby is known as the ‘recovery position’. Hold him on his side, head tilted, as if you were giving him a cuddle, with his head lower than his tummy.

Dial 999 or 112 in an emergency

112 is recommended for use on mobile phones as it gives a clearer signal, but 112 also works on landlines.
112 is commonly used for the emergency services in other European countries

How to deal with choking

If a baby is unable to breathe, cough or cry, and you suspect he has a severe obstruction in his throat, here’s what to do:

1. Lay the baby face down, head low, along your forearm.
2. Support his head and shoulders with your hand.
3. Thrust the heel of your hand, firmly, but not aggressively, up to 5 times between his shoulder blades – these are called back blows.
4. Check his mouth quickly after each blow and remove any obvious obstruction.

If the obstruction is still present:

1. Give up to 5 chest thrusts – place 2 fingers on the lower half of the baby’s breast bone and give 5 sharp downward thrusts.
2. Check the mouth quickly after each one. If the obstruction does not clear after 3 cycles of back blows and chest thrusts, call an ambulance.
3. Continue until help arrives.
4. If you have had to perform chest thrusts on your baby, he must be seen by a doctor.

How to treat bleeding

Blood loss can be serious and should be treated as quickly as possible. 

For a baby who is bleeding severely, your main aim is to stop the flow of blood.

If you have disposable gloves available, use them. It is important to reduce the risk of cross infection at all times.

• Check whether there is an object embedded in the wound. If you suspect there is something embedded, take care not to press on the object. Instead press firmly on either side of the object and build up padding around it before bandaging to avoid putting pressure on the object itself.
• If there is nothing embedded, press on the wound with your hand, ideally over a clean pad and secure with a bandage.
• If an arm or leg has been wounded, raise it above the level of the heart.
• Take the baby to hospital as soon as possible.

How to deal with accidental poisoning

If you think your baby has swallowed some tablets or medicine:

• Take him, and the bottle, immediately to an A&E department.
• Do not give your baby anything to make him sick.
• If you think your baby has swallowed a household or garden chemical, keep calm and get him to hospital as quickly as possible. Take the container from which he has swallowed with you.
• If your baby is in pain or his mouth is red, sore and blistering, give him sips of cold water or milk to soothe him until you get to hospital.
• Make a note of the time and how much chemical/how many tablets have been swallowed.

Burns and scalds

Burns and scalds are among the most common injuries requiring emergency treatment in the UK. 


With babies the most likely cause of scalds in the home is a baby that pulls a hot drink onto himself. Even if the drink does not feel hot to an adult it can still cause damage to a baby’s sensitive skin.

• Cool the burn as quickly as possible by placing the affected area under cold running water, for at least 10 minutes. A shower can be used to cool a burn providing you can support the baby in the shower. Ensure temperature is set to cool and the pressure is low 
Warning: Covering the whole baby, rather than just the area of the burn, with cold water could result in hypothermia.
• It is common for swelling to occur after a burn, so remove any tight clothing before the swelling occurs. However, do not remove clothing or material that may be sticking to the burn.
• Raise the limb to reduce swelling.
• Cover the injury using a clean pad or cling film, and call an ambulance.

Knowing first aid

First aid is a great skill to have, so why not reinforce what you have just learnt and build up your confidence by booking yourself onto a first aid course?
Do relatives or friends look after your baby for you? Make sure that they too know what to do should an accident happen.

This information has come from this website http://www.bounty.com/baby/care/emergency-first-aid


The Red Cross is the world’s largest first aid training provider so you can trust it to deliver courses to the highest standard, with the most up to date information and techniques

More first aid information:

• The Red Cross: www.redcross.org.uk/firstaid or call the national first aid helpline on 0870 170 9222 or email firstaid@redcross.org.uk.
• No time for a course? Why not order a copy of First aid for Babies and Children Fast, published by the British Red Cross and Dorling Kindersley. Order online atwww.redcross.org.uk/shop