Child Safety and First Aid: A Parent's Complete Guide

As a parent, few things are more frightening than seeing your child hurt or unwell. While we can't prevent every accident, knowing how to respond quickly and correctly can make a significant difference in outcomes. This comprehensive guide covers the essential first aid knowledge every parent should have, from treating common childhood injuries to responding to serious emergencies.

Creating a Child-Safe Environment

Prevention is always better than treatment. Before we discuss first aid techniques, it's worth emphasising the importance of childproofing your home and being vigilant in environments where children play.

• Secure furniture: Anchor bookshelves and dressers to walls to prevent tipping
• Guard against falls: Use safety gates on stairs and window guards on upper floors
• Prevent poisoning: Store medications and cleaning products in locked cabinets
• Water safety: Never leave children unattended near water, including bathtubs
• Choking hazards: Keep small objects, button batteries, and balloons away from young children
• Burn prevention: Use back burners on stoves and keep hot drinks out of reach

CPR for Infants and Children

Knowing how to perform CPR on a child or infant is one of the most valuable skills a parent can have. The technique differs from adult CPR and must be adjusted for smaller bodies.

Infant CPR (Under 1 Year)

Child CPR (1-8 Years)

For children aged one to eight years, the technique is similar to adult CPR but with modifications:

• Use one hand instead of two for chest compressions
• Compress the chest about 5cm deep
• Give smaller rescue breaths, just enough to make the chest rise
• Follow the same 30:2 ratio of compressions to breaths

Choking in Children

Choking is a leading cause of injury and death in young children. Foods like grapes, hot dogs, nuts, and popcorn are common culprits, as are small toys and button batteries.

Choking in Infants

1. Lay the infant face-down along your forearm, supporting their head
2. Give up to 5 back blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand
3. If unsuccessful, turn the infant face-up and give up to 5 chest thrusts using 2 fingers
4. Continue alternating between back blows and chest thrusts
5. If the infant becomes unresponsive, begin CPR

Choking in Children Over 1 Year

1. Encourage the child to cough if they can still breathe
2. If they cannot breathe, speak, or cough, give up to 5 back blows
3. If unsuccessful, stand behind the child and perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich manoeuvre)
4. Continue alternating until the object is dislodged or the child becomes unresponsive

Common Childhood Injuries

Cuts and Scrapes

Minor cuts and scrapes are a daily occurrence with active children. The treatment approach is:

1. Calm the child—your composure helps them stay calm
2. Clean your hands or put on gloves
3. Clean the wound under running water
4. Apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth if bleeding
5. Apply antiseptic and cover with an appropriate dressing
6. Use child-friendly bandages with characters to make them feel better

Seek medical attention if the wound is deep, won't stop bleeding after 10 minutes of pressure, shows signs of infection (redness, swelling, pus), or if the child's tetanus vaccination isn't up to date.

Bumps and Bruises

Head bumps are particularly concerning for parents. While most are minor, it's important to know the warning signs that require medical attention.

For minor bumps, apply a cold compress wrapped in a cloth for 10-15 minutes to reduce swelling. Monitor the child closely for 24-48 hours.

Burns and Scalds

Children have thinner skin than adults, making burns more serious. Hot drinks are the leading cause of burns in young children.

1. Cool the burn immediately under cool running water for 20 minutes
2. Remove clothing and nappies from the burned area (unless stuck)
3. Cover loosely with cling wrap or a clean, non-stick dressing
4. Do not apply ice, butter, or any creams
5. Seek medical attention for any burn on a child

Fever Management

Fever is common in childhood and is usually a sign that the body is fighting infection. However, high fevers can be concerning for parents.

A fever is generally defined as a temperature of 38°C or higher. To manage fever:

• Keep the child comfortable and lightly dressed
• Offer plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration
• Administer age-appropriate paracetamol or ibuprofen if needed for comfort
• Do not sponge with cold water (this can cause shivering, which raises body temperature)

Seek medical attention if the child is under 3 months old with any fever, if fever persists for more than 48 hours, if there's a rash that doesn't fade when pressed, or if the child seems seriously unwell.

Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions in children can range from mild to life-threatening. Know the signs of anaphylaxis and how to respond.

Signs of Anaphylaxis

• Difficult or noisy breathing
• Swelling of the tongue or throat
• Difficulty talking or hoarse voice
• Wheeze or persistent cough
• Dizziness or collapse
• Pale and floppy (in young children)

Building a Child-Friendly First Aid Kit

In addition to standard first aid supplies, a family first aid kit should include:

• Child-sized bandages with fun designs
• Digital thermometer
• Children's paracetamol and ibuprofen (age-appropriate)
• Oral rehydration solution sachets
• Saline solution for eye wash and wound cleaning
• Tweezers for splinters
• Instant cold packs
• Emergency contact numbers including Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26)