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 



• 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

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

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

Button Batteries

Button Batteries

One of the reasons I started to deliver first aid was to educate parents about first aid when expecting their precious bundles.  I have been doing this for nearly 3 years now, and peruse the internet to keep up to date with safety advice and tips.  I also watch every last little toy, coin, and finger go into the mouth of my nearly 4 year old on a regular basis, so I thought it important to raise awareness of the risk posed by button batteries.  

Button batteries are sold everywhere for use in our growing pile of toys.  With a recent child death hitting the headlines and a colleague of mine reporting a huge increase in children attending the hospital she works at, I think it is really important to try and raise awareness about the dangers of button batteries.  

Why are they so dangerous?

The safety risk they present has been highlighted by the Child Accident Prevention Trust (www.capt.org.uk). This is generally following unfortunate injuries and incidents to small children. It is well known that young children explore the world through their mouths.  Everything  goes in their mouth and they aren't too discerning as to what this may be.  Their little fingers move with lightening speed meaning toys can disappear into their mouths in an instant, and they are always exploring.  It is these tendencies which are so important for their development, but on occasion can be troublesome.  

Where Can I Find them?

Button batteries are present in a number of household items which often have buttons and other things on them which make them attractive to explore.  Below are some of the items they may be found in:

• small remote controls

• car key fobs

• calculators

• thermometers

• hearing aids

• digital scales

• musical cards

• novelty toys

• watches

• flameless candles and nightlights (CAPT, 2016)

If your children's toys have been appropriately tested to meet certain safety standards the battery compartment should be screwed down making them harder to open, although it is important to point out that older children may be able to open these battery compartments.  

How Can I Reduce the Risk?

In order to keep your children safe from this risk there are a few things you can do to protect them, for example you can keep the toys out of harm's way.  Store spare batteries in a locked cupboard, or one that is out of reach although be mindful of little climbers who are have learnt how to problem solve in order to reach things that they want.  Try to buy your toys from a reputable supplier, making sure they meet British Safety Standards.

These batteries often pass through the system without issue, but if they do get stuck somewhere such as the throat or in an ear or nose, the energy they release can cause the body to produce caustic soda which is extremely corrosive.  If it does get stuck in their throat the battery could burn a hole or cause internal bleeding.

  

It may not be immediately obvious that a battery is stuck until the damage has started to occur.  If you think your child may have swallowed a button battery you should take them to the Emergency Department and advise the Drs of your concerns, don't allow them to eat or drink anything and do not make them vomit.

Awareness is spreading around this issue but it is important to get the word out there, because if one child can be saved or one injury prevented it is a job well done

Nature, Nurture, Personality or luck?

So I sat at a farm yesterday in the sun 🌞🌞with my little lady and some friends and their children watching her eat her lunch 🍊🍏🍞and I realised how "lucky" I am with her and how "good" she actually is 💓💓💓💓.  The more I have thought about it since, the more I have thought, how much of it is nurture, how much is nature - that age old debate, and if any of it is down to luck? It would be arrogant to assume it was nurture as I am definitely no parenting guru and I don't have anyone to compare her to as a mum of one

My daughter first went to the childminders at 11 months of age and I was always told how she would happily have ten like her.  There were very few tears at drop off every morning, she was very accepting and still is of most things.  Lots of people have commented on how calm and easy she is and to be honest she is generally a little doll.  Sure we have had our battles - a nearly 2 year refusal to eat dinner for mummy to the point of tears (mine), but we sailed through the 2s and the 3s with very few tantrums and now we are 4 and she continues to be a really good girl.  The last few days I have had my breakfast poured for me (not necessarily what I would have eaten, but it's the thought😍). Perhaps the lack of tantrums was due to her ability to talk stupidly early.

I can't profess to being a particularly outstanding parent, stroppy, stressed and tired more like 😈 - trying to run a house, set up a business and actually see my treasure will do that to you 😩😩😪.  In the first year of her life we battled reflux accompanied by lots of screaming (not fun), and I had very little support and lots of stress with a very ill mum.  To top that year off I separated from her dad so all in all not a rosy first year 😞. Since then things have continued to be somewhat fraught but I have always had my angel to get me through the hard times 😄😏.  I have always tried to think of her emotions and feelings and given her lots of cuddles and kisses but I have also shouted and lost my temper probably more than I should 😨

I loved my pregnancy and I know we have got a really good attachment, she brings me joy most days 💘💗💙💚💋💋🙌 and I know I am her best friend (for now), but as to her lovely little personality and disposition is this due to luck?  It is the main conclusion I can come to....what do you think?  is personality inate in them from day 1, do we have a great influence in developing or is it all just down to luck?