First aid that is made to Order
Leading Irish charity is teaching parents how to cope in an emergency situation with their children. By Siobhan O’connor
Would you know what to do in an emergency situation with your child? Pediatric first aid is all about common sense and arming yourself with knowledge, eliminating panic and enabling you to act fast in a crisis.
Charity organisation, The Order of Malta, have been running first aid courses in Ireland for the last decade.
First aid trainer May O’leary told the Irish Mirror: “It’s very simple, life saving skills so you know what to look out for and you have the benefit of a few skills.
“We’re a charity, we came into Ireland in the 40s and it is a worldwide organisation and it goes back to The Crusades, they were not the ones fighting but rather those looking after the injured and the sick, educating the public is our main concern.”
In a few short hours the class were taught how to recognise when a temperature is serious and how to try to stop it escalating into a febrile seizure.
You also learn that if it is a seizure you need to get help immediately.
May said: “Our advice to parents is to keep their mobile phone on them when dealing with an emergency with the child beside you, never leave your child.”
Parents of young babies have a very real fear of choking and with a few simple steps parents can take action fast.
May explained: “If you are dealing with someone with respiratory problems like choking you need to know how to deal with it.
“It’s very simple five back slaps or five chest thrusts in a baby.
“Having the skills and the confidence to carry it out is important, staying calm when you know what to do.
“It’s when you don’t know how to do something you can end up being nervous.”