FIRST AID FOR CHILDREN
Arecent news story about a toddler in Mackay who spent two nights in an induced coma after swallowing a button battery was enough to make anyone, especially parents, feel a shiver down their spine.
One-year-old Amity Buchanan had the battery lodged in her throat for more than 28 hours, causing agonising burns to her oesophagus.
The thought of some terrible accident befalling their child is a parent’s nightmare… but knowing what to do if and when such an incident occurs can help them to avoid or, at worst, deal with such situations.
Loretta Woodford, a registered nurse with a passion for infant and child health and safety, saw a gap in the north Queensland market that led her to bring Parentmedic sessions to the north two years ago.
Loretta is a mother of three grown up children and four grandchildren. Born and bred in Townsville, she is a true north Queensland local.
She says Parentmedic North QLD’S primary goal is to educate parents and caregivers about the essentials of infant and child first aid, and to provide them with the skills and confidence needed to respond to a medical emergency in their child.
“Nobody teaches you how to be a parent – traditionally there was extended family around but that’s often not the case nowadays,” she said.
The Parentmedic course covers a range of topics, from CPR and choking to allergies and asthma.
The course is designed to be hands-on and practical, with participants learning through interactive scenarios and simulations. The courses are delivered by trained and certified instructors, who themselves are parents.
Loretta says one of the unique features of Parentmedic is the emphasis placed on empowering parents and caregivers to trust their instincts and act confidently in an emergency situation.
“Parentmedic recognises that not all emergencies will be the same, and that parents and caregivers will often be the first on the scene. By providing them with the skills and knowledge to respond appropriately, Parentmedic aims to reduce the likelihood of serious injury or even death in infants and young children,” she said.
“Two of the main concerns of new and soonto-be parents that attend the sessions are choking and allergies.
“We also talk about burns, poisoning, fevers, injuries from falls and so on.”
She says the course also helps parents understand at what point they should seek medical attention.
“Not every situation means you should rush the child to the emergency department.
“We discuss the signs that parents need to look out for to know whether they should go to the hospital – for example, if their child has had a fall and hit their head, it’s a normal response in the body to have swelling, but if the child begins vomiting, or having headaches, that’s the time to seek medical attention.”
Another key aspect of Parentmedic’s approach is the focus on prevention.
Loretta and her team recognise that many injuries and accidents can be prevented through simple measures such as childproofing the home.
Two-hour sessions are available twice a month in Cairns, Townsville and Mackay.
Parentmedic can also run in-home sessions for groups of family or friends by arrangement.
Loretta says a Social Enterprise
Development Grant from the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training enabled her to buy a whole range of resources to aid in training parents, such as mannequins, epi-pens and a defibrillator.
She says she would welcome inquiries from health professionals who are interested in training to become a Parentmedic educator, particularly in Cairns.
The main concerns of new and soon-to-be parents that attend the sessions are choking and allergies.
To find out more about Parentmedic North Queensland, email
northqld@parentmedic.co, visit parentmedic.co, or phone Loretta on 0414
967 404.