Whilst any accident or emergency is a time-sensitive and stressful situation that requires immediate attention, emergencies involving children are particularly overwhelming and require life-saving expertise. In this guide to emergency paediatric first aid, we provide the knowledge and skills that parents, teachers, and caregivers need to handle medical emergencies in children. With a focus on quick, effective actions, we aim to reduce the panic associated with these emergencies, and improve the outcomes for young children in urgent care situations, so read on to make sure you are able to act effectively in an emergency.
Emergency Paediatric First Aid
Paediatric, also known as child, first aid refers to the skills and techniques used to respond to emergencies involving children, and is a basic life skill for all those who have, or work, with children. As anyone who regularly interacts with little ones knows, children are curious and keen to learn, which does often mean that they are prone to accidents whilst exploring all that the world has to offer.
Whilst the usual bumps and scrapes aren’t classed as an emergency, real-life emergencies can occur anywhere, from playgrounds to living rooms, and there is a clear need for constant vigilance from caregivers. Preventative safety, such as child-proofing homes with stair gates and safety sockets, is the best strategy to mitigate risks inside the home, and teaching children about dangers outside of the home, such as high-speed traffic, are all key ways to keep them safe.
However, when accidents happen, immediate action is critical. Emergency first aid for babies and children requires specific knowledge and skills, as their physiological responses to injuries differ from adults – so, whether you are a parent, carer, or someone who works in a child-focused environment, explore these key basics below to confirm that you know how to respond safely.
- Choking: if a child in your care begins showing signs of choking, encourage them to keep coughing and to spit out the object, whilst assessing if intervention is needed. If you do need to intervene, give the child or baby gentle back taps, and if you need to administer the Heimlich manoeuvre on a young child, stand or kneel behind them, make a fist with one hand, place it just above the navel, and give quick, upward thrusts to dislodge the obstruction.
- Burns: As a general rule for any surprise burns, cool the burn under running water for at least 10 minutes, but avoid ice, which can worsen the injury, and be sure to keep clothes away from the injury, as these can stick to the skin.
- Bleeding: For bleeding control in young children, apply gentle pressure to the wound with a clean cloth and keep the injured area elevated, if possible, to reduce blood flow and promote clotting.
- CPR: Baby and child CPR is performed with less force and more care compared to adults. Familiarise yourself with the correct hand placement and compression depth to avoid hurting your child whilst still being able to effectively perform CPR.
- Allergic reactions: Take the time to identify and recognise the symptoms of any allergies that the children in your care have, and make sure that you know how to use an EpiPen or similar medication effectively if prescribed.
Quick and effective assistance can prevent minor injuries from becoming severe and can be life-saving in serious emergencies, so make sure to monitor the child’s condition and health after an emergency and always seek professional medical help when necessary.
Staying Calm
With a focus on quick, effective actions, one of the most important emergency paediatric first aid considerations is staying calm and authoritative during emergencies. All first responders are trained to be as reassuring yet direct as possible, both to keep the patient calm and to maintain control over the emergency, and this approach remains just as important when treating children.
If you are a designated first aider, then you are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the child, and in emergency situations every second counts – and staying calm in these situations will help you to assess the situation accurately and decide the best course of action. This will also allow you to manage the overall scene of the emergency, coordinate with bystanders, and make sure that help is on the way, as well as helping you to communicate more effectively with emergency responders and providing accurate information.
Panic, on the other hand, clouds judgement, leads to hasty decisions, and can result in mistakes that may worsen the situation. These responses can also confuse and frighten children, as they often look to adults for cues on how to react. If they see adults panicking, they are likely to feel more scared and stressed, which can escalate their anxiety and, in some cases, their physical symptoms. This is particularly dangerous if the injury has occurred in a school or nursery, as other children may pick up on these emotions and create a stressful, widespread situation.
In training for emergency situations, emphasis is often placed on developing the ability to stay calm, and completing the relevant training will help reduce panic and anxiety, making a calm, effective response more likely in real emergencies.
First Aid Courses
Child-focused emergency training is essential for anyone involved in childcare, as it equips them with the knowledge and skills to respond effectively to emergencies. This specialised training is tailored to the specific needs of infants and children, and the regulations regarding it aim to elevate the health and safety standards in childcare settings in the UK. Currently, UK regulations mandate that at least one person holding a valid emergency aid certificate be on-site and ready to respond at all times in areas such as schools, nurseries, and youth centres, as part of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework.
So, what does this training involve?
- Paediatric Emergency First Aid: This focus primarily equips the first responder with the skills to assess an emergency and prioritise what action to take. This includes situations in which a child or baby may be unresponsive, not breathing normally, or exhibiting signs of choking, shock, or a seizure.
- Managing Paediatric Illness and Injury: This section of the training explores the roles and responsibilities of the first aider, ensuring that they are well aware of their important role. This includes making sure that they understand the need for calm, authoritative communication, the importance of having a well-stocked emergency kit, and the need to record accidents and incidents once the child has received the appropriate care. This section also covers more specific, but still important, risks facing children, including electric shocks, burns, and suspected fractures, and also makes sure that the responder is able to help a child having a diabetic emergency, an asthma attack, or a similar allergic reaction, including safe use of auto-injectors.
Once the course has been completed, and a valid certificate has been issued, it is recommended that the skills learned are maintained with an optional annual refresher training; but it is required that they are demonstrated and tested every three years through a mandatory requalification course.
The aim of this comprehensive training is to equip caregivers, educators, and parents with the skills and confidence to handle medical emergencies and ensure the safety and well-being of children. Having these skills, and the ability to remain calm and act decisively, will make all the difference in the event of an accident or medical emergency – even to the extent of potentially saving a child’s life.
Keeping Kids Safe with the Right Training
Given the unpredictable nature of emergencies, having the right training to protect and care for young children is a life-saving requirement for anyone involved in childcare.
To ensure that you are equipped with the necessary skills, and to be fully prepared to act in the best interest of children during emergencies, book your Emergency Paediatric First Aid training through First Response First Aid today.