First Aid Tips every New Parent should Know.

Basic first aid knowledge is necessary for everyone, not only parents. Parents however have to learn  a their young ones are still learning and developing their motor skills, co-ordination and are very curious of their environment.

Below are the injuries that can happen at home and resources on how to go about them.

Chocking in Infants.

For infants under the age of one, back thrust is an efficient and effective way to handle chocking . Hold the baby lying face down on your thigh, sandwiched between your fore arms and alternate back blows with chest thrusts. Continue until the baby coughs and the object is forced out or the baby starts to cry.

Perform CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)  on the baby if she is unresponsive.

Give 30 compressions with two fingers placed below the nipple line and compress hard and first. If she doesn’t respond, continue compressing until:

• There is a sign of life.
• You have called 911 or assistance and help arrives.
• Until you get to the health center.

Chocking in Older Kids.

Perform a Heimlich maneuver (abdominal compression) on older kids. Grab the child by the abdomen: one hand (fist) above the navel and the other hand over the fist and push into the abdomen with an upward motion.Perform the Heimlich until help arrives.  Perform CPR for a child who isn’t breathing.

Lay them down and perform chest compressions while waiting for the chest to rise before pushing again.  

*Take care against excessive force while pushing so as not to break the ribs.*

Foreign Objects in the Nose or Ear

Take young babies and infants to the doctor. For older kids, use a pair of tweezers   and do not try to put a finger in bid to remove the object.  Close the unblocked nostril by applying pressure on it and instruct the child to blow through the other nostril to dislodge the object.

If the objects are lodged in the ear, see an ear specialist to avoid tampering with the ear drums or lodging it farther inside.

Burns

Remove clothes and jewelry on the burnt area. If the clothes are stuck, carefully cut with a pair of scissors. Removing the clothes in case of a serious burn injury can make the situation worse as the clothes might peel off with the skin.

Place the burnt area under running water that is cool and not forceful for about 20 minutes and then apply a burn ointment.

To apply first aid on acid burns, wear gloves and remove all the items of clothing on the affected area while being careful not to touch other skin areas.

Place the affected area under running water while trying to calm the patient. Reducing stress levels for acid burn victims is essential in their recovery. Call the ambulance and take the patient to the Accidents and Emergency department.

See a doctor for serious burn injuries immediately.

Deep Cuts

Wash the wound with water and antiseptic and cover it with a sterile gauze. Wrap with a sterile bandage while applying pressure to the wound.  If the bleeding seeps through, apply more pressure as you wait to see the doctor.

Nose Bleeds

Let the child sit uptight while you pinch the top of their nose and hold for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the child should breathe with their mouth. Apply a cold compress on the nape of their neck.

If the bleeding ceases, there’s no need to see a doctor unless:

• The nose bleeds are frequent.
• The child has a blood clotting disorder such as haemophilia
• The child is under two years.

Seizures

Place the child on a flat surface and loosen all the clothes and jewelry.  Lay the child on her side in case seizure is accompanied by vomiting. If the seizure last for more than 5 minutes, take the child to the doctor.

Sun Stroke

Move the child to a cool place and loosen her clothing. Additionally, sprinkle cold water and fan them to help them cool

Get the child to drink a drink infused with electrolytes like coconut water or ORS (Oral Re-hydration Solutions).

You may also like: Baby Care and First Aid For Moms and Nannies by Mee Kreations Ltd