Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
Parents of young children might often find themselves reaching for a first-aid kit. A healthy, active lifestyle brings with it the risk of injury, and knowing how best to react to an injury can make the difference between a speedy recovery and a complicated one.
Let’s take a look at a few essential skills you might seek to cultivate.
Building a First Aid Kit: Essentials Every Parent Needs
So, what should go into a first-aid kit? The most important, and often-used, item is probably plasters. Make sure that you have enough of them in various sizes. You might also look for a crepe bandage for dealing with sprains, and a pack of alcohol-free sterile wipes, for cleaning wounds. Sterile gloves are also essential – they’ll protect not just the patient, but the person administering the first aid, too.
Finally, your first-aid kit might include pain relief tablets. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are both effective.
Treating Cuts and Scrapes
Cuts and grazes are common among children. You’ll want to clean the wound using sterile wipes and then apply a plaster or dressing to protect the wound against dirt and grime. If the wound is bleeding a lot, apply pressure on it. If there’s an object inside the wound, don’t take it out – instead, press the wound together from either side. Raising the wound above the level of the patient’s heart can help to slow down the bleeding.
Managing Burns and Scalds
You can deal with burns and scalds by putting the wound underneath cool or lukewarm running water for around half an hour. Wrap the patient in a blanket, but don’t rub it against the burned area. Avoid ice, and oil-based creams and greasy substances. Once the injury has been cooled down, you can wrap it in cling film to protect it. If any blisters form, don’t pop them – they serve an important healing function.
Handling Choking Emergencies
Choking is a fairly common problem among children. It’s important that you react to it quickly and decisively. If a baby is choking, see if you can remove the object from their mouth – but don’t be tempted to ‘sweep’ the inside of their mouth for an object you can’t see. Give them five firm slaps on the back, checking that the blockage is cleared after each one. Then begin abdominal thrusts, pushing up from the bottom of the diaphragm.
Recognising and Treating Allergic Reactions
If your child suffers from a particular allergy, it’s vital that you develop an in-depth knowledge of what that allergy entails. If you think that your child is suffering from an anaphylactic shock, then call 999 immediately.
Responding to Head Injuries and Concussions
If your child loses consciousness after a head injury, even if it’s just for a few seconds, you’ll need to summon an ambulance. The same goes if they can’t walk normally, or if they’re constantly crying. Apply an ice pack to the head, and watch for any warning signs over the next 24 hours. If the head injury has been inflicted because of neglect or malice by a third party, then pursuing brain injury claims might be worthwhile.
Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
