FIRST AID FAST

Jenni’s advice on what to do if your child…

…is choking

Lean the child forward and give up to five blows between their shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. (With babies, sit and lay the baby face down along your thigh, supporting their head.)

Check mouth. If you can pick out the object, do – but don’t push it further in.

If still blocked, make a fist, place just below the belly button, grasp the fist with your other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards five times. (With babies, lay them face up along your thigh, put two fingers just below the centre of the chest and push inwards five times.) Check mouth regularly to remove object if possible.

If choking persists, call 999 and continue trying to dislodge the object.

…suffers a burn

Hold the area under cool, running water for 20 minutes.

Where possible, gently remove any clothing in contact with the burn, but if fabric is stuck, leave it alone.

Once the burn is cool, cover it with clingfilm or a clean plastic bag to prevent infection.

Seek medical advice if the burn is larger than the size of the casualty’s hand; is on the hands, feet, face or genitals; or is a deep, open burn.

With electrical burns, do not touch the child until the electricity is switched off or they are not in contact with it. In this instance, always call for emergency help.

…is bleeding heavily

Sit or lie the child down. As long as there’s nothing embedded and blood isn’t pumping out, apply direct, continuous pressure to the wound for 10 minutes.

Apply a sterile dressing or bandage and continue to add extra pressure.

If the bleeding continues through the dressing, add another and take the child to hospital immediately.

Nearly half of all parents in Britain report that their child has had a first aid emergency.

…may have a broken bone

Do not move the area to see if it’s broken. It’s common to hear the phrase ‘Can you move it?’ when a child hurts a limb, but moving it could do more damage.

Immobilise the injury in the position you find it, and take the child to hospital for an X-ray.

…bumps their head

Hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) in a tea towel on the injury regularly to bring down any swelling. If they’re sleepy or drowsy, keep an eye on their breathing and check you can wake them easily.

If you’re concerned or suspect concussion, visit your GP or call 111.

Take them to hospital immediately if, over the next few days, they suffer: worsening headache, nausea, vomiting, speech problems, drowsiness, dizziness, weakness in limbs, bleeding/fluid from ear/nose, confusion, visual seizures. problems or