Essential First Aid Skills Every Child Should Know
I’ll never forget the sheer panic when my one-year-old daughter grabbed a piece of watermelon from her older brother’s plate, shoved it in her mouth, and immediately started choking. It had been ages since my last first aid training back in my Brownies days, but luckily, my instincts kicked in. A few firm back slaps later, the piece of melon was out, and she was breathing normally again.
That scare was enough to sign me up for a new pediatric first aid course my Health Visitor mentioned a few weeks later. I was determined to be better prepared.
Facing Real Dangers as a Parent
As a parent, I spent so much time researching the safest car seat and worrying about the bedroom’s temperature to avoid cot death. While car crashes and cot deaths are rare, everyday hazards like burns, choking, trips, and cuts are far more common, yet we often overlook them.
Many large children’s hospitals offer basic first aid training for new parents, and even if there’s a fee, what’s more valuable—a trendy new outfit or training that could save your child’s life?
Handling Burns
Burns are one of the most common accidents because kids often touch things they shouldn’t, like the fire or oven. There are also numerous myths about treating burns. Should you remove clothing? Use water? Apply butter? And how do you know when a burn needs medical attention?
First aid courses cover all the basics, providing the knowledge and confidence to assess risks at home and handle burns correctly.
Learning CPR
Although it’s rare, knowing how to perform CPR for babies and young children can be lifesaving. Techniques for kids are different from those for adults, so even if you’re trained in adult CPR, a pediatric course is invaluable. These courses also tackle common hazards like drowning.
Dealing with Cuts and Bleeding
No matter how careful you are, kids will inevitably cut themselves, often when they’re dressed in their best outfits for visiting relatives. Head wounds, in particular, can bleed heavily. First aid courses teach you that applying gentle pressure stops bleeding and how to clean and dress wounds to prevent infection.
Gaining this knowledge not only prepares you to handle emergencies but also offers peace of mind.
