When your child is hurt, you want to do whatever you can to help them. But what if you don’t know how to properly care for them? What if you don’t have the right supplies on hand? That’s where a paediatric first aid course comes in handy. This course will teach you all the basics you need to take care of a child who has been injured—from CPR to wound care to administering emergency medications. This course is not just for parents; it’s also important for caregivers of any age. By taking a paediatric first aid course, you’ll be able to provide the best possible care for your loved ones in times of need.
What is Paediatric first aid?
A paediatric first aid course is a great way to prepare yourself and your family in the event of an emergency. Children are more prone to injury than adults, so it is important to be prepared for anything.
A paediatric first aid course covers basic life support, including CPR and AED. It also covers injuries that can happen to children, such as cuts and bruises. Finally, the course discusses how to deal with common emergencies, such as a child choking or being unconscious.
This kind of training is essential for parents who have children at any age. It can help them know what to do in case of an emergency, and ensure that their children get the best possible care in case of an accident.
What are the signs of a Paediatric emergency?
If you think that your child is having a medical emergency, the best thing to do is call 911. However, if you feel like your child may have a serious injury or health problem, there are some things that you can do to help them as well. The following are the signs of a pediatric emergency:
• Difficulty breathing
• Seizures
• Unconsciousness
• Bluish skin color due to lack of oxygen
• Pale skin color due to low blood pressure
If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, it is important to act quickly. Try to keep the child warm and safe and contact 911 as soon as possible.
How to give first aid to a child
One of the most important things you can do to help a child in an emergency is to provide first aid. This includes helping to stop any bleeding, applying pressure to injuries, and giving pain relief if needed. Here are some tips on how to give first aid to a child:
If the child is unconscious or not breathing, perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). If the child is unresponsive and has no signs of life, try rendering aid using these steps:
RESTORE BREATHING: If the child is breathing, place them in a comfortable position with their head down and chest open. Open their airway by tilting their chin up and thrusting your fingers into their mouth. If breathing does not resume after 10 seconds of passive resuscitation (mouth-to-mouth), begin CPR. Check for carotid pulse by placing two fingers on either side of the neck just below the Adam’s apple. A strong pulse indicates proper blood flow through the carotid arteries. If there is no pulse or less than a 30 bpm (beats per minute) pulse, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Perform CPR until emergency personnel arrives.
If the child has no pulse or lost consciousness due to injury or environmental conditions, perform basic life support as follows:
BREATHING: Give artificial respiration using a face mask if available or rescue breaths if certain conditions exist such as severe burns over more than 20% of total body
How to handle choking emergencies
If someone is choking, the first step is to remove any obstruction from their breathing. If the person is conscious and can speak, ask if they are okay and tell them to breathe slowly and deeply. If the person cannot speak or breathe, start Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). If CPR is not possible or if the person is not responding, call for help. Warning: Choking victims may be very frightened and may resist attempts to help them. Do not force them to take in air if they do not want to. Call for emergency services immediately.
How to deal with head injuries
If you are ever involved in a pediatric emergency, be prepared to deal with head injuries. Head trauma can occur from a variety of sources, such as falls from a height, getting hit in the head with an object, or being struck by a car.
When assessing a child for head trauma, it is important to look for any evidence of bleeding on the brain or skull. To do this, tilt the child’s head back and look for any white or grey matter visible above the ears. If there is any evidence of bleeding on the brain or skull, immediately call for medical assistance and start supportive care (such as CPR).
If there is no evidence of bleeding on the brain or skull, gently tilt the child’s head forward so that eye level is reached. Look for signs of consciousness and responsiveness (e.g., opening eyes wide when asked to do so). If there are no signs of consciousness or responsiveness, determine if the child has been knocked unconscious by the injury and check for breathing (in cases of severe head trauma). If there is no sign of breathing, commence cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until help arrives.
If the child does have signs of consciousness and responsiveness, carefully remove any obstructions from their airway (e.g., debris) and ensure they are breathing properly. If they are not breathing properly due to a traumatic brain injury (TBI), begin artificial respiration until medical assistance arrives. If there is evidence of
How to treat burns
When treating burns, it is important to remember that the victim’s age and general health condition will affect how severely they are burned.
If a burn is less than 2 inches (5 cm) in depth, the person should be treated with cool water and soap. If the burn is greater than 2 inches (5 cm) in depth, the person should be treated with cool water and an appropriate first-aid cream or ointment. If the burn is on an arm or leg, the person should be splinted using a clean cloth or paper clip. If the burn is on the face, hands, or feet, the person should be bathed immediately with cool water and soap. If there is any damage to underlying tissues, these may need to be surgically removed.
How to treat shock
Shock is a serious medical condition that can result in death if not treated quickly. The best way to treat shock is by administering immediate first aid. Here are some tips on how to treat shock:
1. Stop the bleeding: Shock can cause significant blood loss, so it’s important to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. You can do this by applying pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or your hand, or using a tourniquet if available.
2. Administer oxygen: In cases of severe shock, oxygen may be necessary to help the victim breathe. If you have an oxygen supply available, give it to the victim immediately.
3. Raise the patient’s temperature: Shock causes extensive body cooling, which can lead to hypothermia and even cardiac arrest. To combat these effects, raise the patient’s temperature as much as possible. Try using cool water, ice packs, or blankets to help reduce body temperature.
4. Compress the chest: A collapsed lung (pneumothorax) or massive airway obstruction (pulmonary embolism) can also lead to shock in adults and children alike. To prevent these conditions from developing further, compress the chest firmly with your hands and use CPR if needed.
CPR for Children
When it comes to CPR for children, the key is to keep the child calm while providing breathing and heart rhythm support. The American Red Cross recommends that parents perform CPR on infants and children younger than 8 years old by placing them on their back with their head and shoulders off the ground, positioning one arm under the child’s shoulder and the other arm around the child’s chest. If a baby is not breathing or has no heartbeat, parents should commence rescue breaths and call for emergency help.