Sunday 28 May 2017

Child Safety Week What Are You Doing?

So what have I learnt in the 4 and a half years since I became a parent.....?  My little one seems to get clumsier with every passing minute.  She has trip after fall after blood spillage with no sign of it abating.  When she was immobile she was pretty unscathed but then she started to move.....

Statistics


    Hair Straighteners
    pills and tablets

  • Accidents in the home remain the biggest risk to the under 5s, in fact they are the leading cause of death in boys under the age of 4  according to the Child Accident Prevention Trust
  • 1 in 10 parents of children under 5 admitted that their children had sustained a serious burn from hair straighteners or tong
  • Suspected poisoning is one of the most common causes of attendance to Accident and Emergency and while childproof lids might slow them down some 3 - 4 year olds can open them in seconds
  • 95% of all burns and scalds happen in the home.
  • Every day around 40 under 5s are rushed to hospital following choking




  • Well that was a cheerful little whistlestop tour through some gruesome facts.....but it just highlights how we need to be so mindful of childrens' safety in everything they do.  Things can change in the blink of an eye and not everything is preventable.  All we can do is be mindful of what we are doing when our children are around

    Child Safety Week 

    The Child Accident Prevention Trust is instrumental in spreading the word on safety offering free advice and tips to parents and professionals on how to keep little people safe.  The offer training as well as resources and publications. 

    This year it is taking place from 5th - 11th June.  The subject is "Safe Children, sharing is caring"

    Why not visit their website for further information and tips www.capt.org.uk

    The focus is on asking people what they do to keep children safe.....what do you do?

    Here at safety first I try to educate parents on keeping their babies and children safe as well as teaching childminders and nannies on how to provide first aid in their work place.  I am trying to get first aid into schools and after school clubs for 4 to 11 yesr olds.  Flat Stan is an amazing resource developed by Simon Ferris.  It enables children to get hands on and reminds them how to call for help etc....thus empowering them to help out in an emergency.  Flat Stan First Aid now have resources for EarlyYears Settings which I can advise you on further

    If you would like some hands on training why not drop me a line at safetyfirst1704@gmail.com

    Tuesday 16 May 2017

    My Top Tips for First Aid

    I can't believe it has been nearly 3 years since I started Safety First.  What a great time I have had teaching children from 3.5 years of age to parents and professionals how to administer first aid.  Getting the safety message out there and empowering them to deal with unexpected emergencies.

    During this time I have had my fair share of bumps and bleeds to deal with as the mother of an eternally bruised 4 year old.  I thought it may be a good time to share my top topics and tips that I would like all first time parents to know and think about

    1) Choking 

    From my experience of teaching first aid to parents, I think this is the subject that most people are concerned with especially around weaning.....so

    How to recognise choking:


    • The person may be unable to talk or breathe
    • They may be grabbing their throat
    • Attempts to cough will be weakening
    • They will look really distressed
    • They may initially be quite red in the face becoming pale and blue.

    How to minimise the risk of choking 


    
    Choking hazards - How to cut up grapes

    • Cut food up into reasonable sized pieces - grapes should be cut in half vertically
    • Try not to leave coins and other small objects lying around
    • Don't feed them when they are on the move, try to keep them sitting down
    • Remember that their airways are very small so be mindful of what goes in their mouth
    If your child chokes, lean them forward over your lap (supporting the head if it is a baby) and administer 5 back blows, followed by 5 abdominal thrusts (chest thrusts in babies).

    If you cannot remove the obstruction call 999 and if they collapse commence CPR

    First Aid for Choking

    2) Febrile Convulsions

    Children under the age of 5 are unable to manage their own body temperature as the hypothalamus (part of the brain) is immature.  Anyone who has had a baby or small child will know that when they get sick their temperature can soar.  Most of the time this will come down with some calpol.  However there is a more serious side to temperatures which many parents are unaware of.  



    In 1 in 20 children a high temperature can lead to a febrile convulsion.  This is a fit associated with a rapidly rising temperature.
      

    A normal temperature is between 36.5 to 37.5.  



    If your child has a temperature - do not overdress them, keep them well hydrated and keep the room well ventilated without directly pointing a fan at the child, administer calpol (paracetamol) and nurofen (ibuprofen) as per the instructions on the bottle.


    How to recognise a febrile convulsion

    • The child will become stiff with jerky movements
    • Or they may become really floppy
    • Their eyes may roll back 
    • The child will be unresponsive
    • Their limbs will start twitching and jerking
    • They may foam at the mouth
    • They may become a bit blue around the mouth

    This product has not yet been reviewed ( Write a Review )What to do?

    • Time the seizure - an uncomplicated seizure should no more than around 3 minutes
    • Protect the head
    • Make sure the area is safe
    • Take them to hospital to investigate the cause



    These are just a couple of things I think parents of small children should know about, but if you would like to know more please do not hesitate to get in touch and book yourself on to a first aid course today www.safety-first-welling.org