Parenting Essentials 2022: Must Follow First Aid Tips for Your Baby’s Safety
Did you know that 95 percent of the time parents don’t know how to respond during first aid situations? A survey released by the British Red Cross showed that 81 percent of parents stated that they wouldn’t feel comfortable taking action to help their choking babies. This is an alarming statistic.
Needless to say, parents need to brush up on their knowledge of first aid in order to act quickly and effectively. Here are tips on how to act in the case of a medical emergency. But first, let’s get prepared for your first aid kit.
What’s in a First Aid Kit?
- Band-Aids
- Thermometer
- Nasal Aspirator
- Antiseptic Cream/Lotion
- Sterile Gauze
- Sterile Tape
- Baby Fever Medications
- Baby Painkillers
- Burn Ointment
- Calamine Lotion
- Tweezers
- Scissors
- Hot/Cold Compress
These are some of the basic items you should keep in your first aid kit, but be sure to include any other medications that your family might need in case of other situations. For example, if your baby has asthma or nut allergies, keep the appropriate medications at all times in the first aid kit too.
In fact, we feel first aid courses should be included in school curriculums for everyone to acquire basic knowledge of medical emergencies. National Health and Safety College offers such courses where parents can also sign up for first aid courses in Northern Beaches or any other locations in New South Wales, Australia.
Let’s now look at some common medical emergencies that can happen to kids of all ages.
1. Breathing Difficulty
This is a situation when a child stops breathing and needs CPR, also known as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Please note that CPR should only be applied when the child is not breathing.
If you notice your child has stopped breathing, you need to make them lie on their back. Put the heel of your palm on their chest. Make sure it is in the middle, between the nipples. Then do a chest compression by applying a light force and press. Do not apply too much force or you may end up injuring their ribs.
Wait for the chest to rise before you press down again. You should keep a count of the compressions; don’t do more than 30 at a stretch. You should continue to do this until medical help arrives.
If there’s shortness of breath or any other breathing difficulty, you must take your child to the nearest doctor in Northern Beaches, or any other location that’s convenient for you. Do not try to do CPR on children who are still breathing.
2. Choking
This is very common among toddlers. It happens when you offer them solids before they are ready for it. Babies need to reach certain milestones in terms of motor development before being able to chew and swallow food.
It can also happen to older children. It’s best to supervise your kids when they are eating. Running, walking, and jumping should not be encouraged during meals. This is a very common cause of choking among children, especially when they are engaged in outdoor activities in Northern Beaches.
The first thing you need to do is keep talking to them. If they respond, their airway is clear, and thank God for that. If your child is not able to respond, call 911.
In the meantime, wrap both your arms around your child’s waist. Curl one hand over the other fist. Put your thumb against their upper abdomen, slightly below their ribcage. Keep your fists interlocked and do an upward thrust to make the choking hazard come out. Do it multiple times if required.
NHS should actively promote medical practices through digital marketing strategies to enable healthcare professionals to showcase their services to the digital world, beyond their regions to save time and effort. Plus, think about the number of patients they could assist, especially in desperate medical emergency situations.
3. Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions in infants are not uncommon, but some can be severe enough to need immediate medical attention. There are different kinds of allergic reactions such as asthma, breathing difficulty, eczema, or swelling that can be triggered by stings and bites, pollen, latex, and food items.
Food allergies can be serious in children. The most common are nuts, shellfish, milk, eggs, and gluten. You should take your child to a doctor immediately after noticing any allergic reaction.
Please get your child tested for allergies if you haven’t already. You should also download a user-friendly app on your phone with digital healthcare services as a preventive measure. It’s wiser to be proactive when it comes to your family members’ health and safety.
4. Head Injuries
Head injuries should never be taken lightly, although it’s very common. Toddlers bump their heads frequently.
However, there’s no reason to wait it out. If the wound is large enough to bleed profusely, your child will probably need stitches. You should rush to the nearest Northern Beaches emergency care for help.
If you see bumps or notice your child is losing consciousness, you need to keep him up until medical help arrives. Grab some ice to put on the injured area, and talk to them while you wait.
Watch out for stumbling, vomiting, headaches, or any other signs that could occur within 24 hours of injury. Please don’t ignore these, as symptoms may appear after several hours when it might be too late. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Pro tip: Always keep ice packs in the freezer for wounds and injuries.
Conclusion
If you have infants and toddlers, stock up on medical supplies accordingly. The checklist provided to you above should be a good starter pack for your first aid kit. Keep track of the supplies and try to replace them before you run out of an item.
So for all Northern Beaches parents—if you are well equipped with your first aid kit and additional first aid tips, you should be more confident to handle any medical situation with ease. Let’s spread the word!
