First Aid Tips for Children
Jessica Gitre - Garza Online Health
Seizure
- Call 9-1-1
- Remove nearby objects
- After the seizure passes, monitor for breathing and changes in condition.
- Comfort and reassure them, and roll the child to the side to keep the airway clear of fluids or vomit.
-Safety Tip-
Don't restrain the child or infant, or place anything between the teeth or in the mouth.
Checking an Injured or Ill Child Who Appears to be Unconscious
- Tap the shoulder to check for responsiveness
- Call 9-1-1
- Open the airway by tilting the head and lifting the chin
- Check for breathing (for no more than 10 seconds)
- If no breathing, give 2 rescue breaths
- Scan for severe bleeding
- Respond appropriately based on responsiveness and breathing
-Safety Tip-
Another way to check for responsiveness in infants is by flicking the bottom of their foot.
Poisoning
Burns
- Remove from the source of the burn
- Cool the burn with cold running water until pain is relieved
- Cover loosely with sterile dressing
- Call 9-1-1 and care for shock
External Bleeding
- Cover the wound with sterile dressing
- Apply direct pressure until bleeding stops
- Cover the dressing with bandage
- Apply more pressure and call 9-1-1
-Safety Tip-
Wash hands with soap and water after giving care
Conscious choking - Child
- Give 5 back blows
- Give 5 abdominal thrusts
- Repeat steps one and two until the object is forced out, the person can breathe, or the person becomes unconscious.
- If the person becomes unconscious, call 9-1-1
-Safety Tip-
Stand or kneel behind the child
Conscious Choking - Infant
- Give 5 back blows
- Give 5 chest thrusts
- Repeat the first two steps until the object is forced out, the infant can breathe, or the infant becomes unconscious
- If the infant becomes unconscious, call 9-1-1
-Safety Tip-
Support the neck and head securely when giving chest thrusts and back blows, and keep the head lower than the chest.
Unconscious Choking - Child and Infant
- Give rescue breaths
- Give 30 compressions
- Look for and remove object if seen
- Give 2 rescue breaths
- Repeat steps 2 through 4 if breaths do not make the chest rise
-Safety Tip-
The person must be on a firm, flat surface for compressions. Remove the CPR breathing barrier when giving chest compressions
CPR - Child and Infant
- Give 30 chest compressions, 2 inches deep for children, 1.5 inches for infants, 100 compressions per minute
- Give 2 rescue breaths
- Repeat steps one and two.
-Safety Tip-
Do not stop CPR unless you find an obvious sign of life (e.g. breathing), an AED is ready to use, another trained responder will take over, you are too exhausted to continue, or the scene becomes unsafe.