First Aid Tips Every Parent Should Know

All parents and educators alike wish injuries in our children never happen, but reality is, bumps and scrapes are inevitable when it comes to raising children. Ensure you keep calm during those situations by familiarising yourself with basic first aid tips to help you get through them!

1. Skin Wounds

Skin wounds are the most common injuries any child will sustain. We encourage all our parents in our various childcare centres in Sydney to ensure their children are up-to-date on the necessary tetanus vaccinations for their child’s safety.

• Bruises: Apply a cool compress (a bag of frozen vegetables will also work in a pinch) to the affected area. If the injury is below the head, elevate the injured area so it is above the heart. This prevents the blood from pooling, minimising the swelling.
• Cuts: Thoroughly rinse the wound with water and soap. Using a clean cloth, apply direct pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding and hold it in place for 1 to 2 minutes. Apply an antibiotic ointment (not alcohol, because that will sting and cause the child even more discomfort!) and cover the wound with a clean bandage. Call your pediatrician or seek emergency care for large or deep cuts. Continue applying direct pressure until medical assistance arrives.
• Scrapes: Rinse with clean water for at least 5 minutes to get rid of any dirt and germs. Refrain from using alcohol, Betadine, hydrogen peroxide or soap. Apply an antibiotic ointment and bandage, taking care to ensure that the bandage is not in direct contact with the wound.
• Splinters: Carefully remove small splinters with tweezers before washing the area clean. If you cannot remove the splinter completely, seek medical assistance at once.

2. Nosebleed

Have your child tilt his or head slightly forward and using a tissue or towel, pinch the nose tightly just below the nasal bone. Keep this position for ten to 15 minutes as you wait for the bleeding to stop. Make sure you keep your child from leaning back as the blood may travel down the throat and to the stomach, which may cause vomiting. An hour after the bleeding has stopped, you may apply petroleum jelly to the nose to keep it moist.

Seek medical assistance if bleeding has not stopped after 30 minutes or if it caused by trauma.

3. Choking

In the event your child accidentally swallows a toy or a big piece of food, talk to your child immediately. If he or she can answer you, that means the airways are clear. If not, dial 000 or 112 before attempting to dislodge it. Then pick up your child, turn him or facedown and using the heel of your hand, strike between the shoulder blades. Repeat until the foreign object is expelled or medical assistance arrives.

At Little Zak’s, we know what a big hazard choking is for our children’s safety. Our different centres, such as our Brookvale early learning centre, make it a point to carefully keep small objects away from our children’s reach.

4. Twisted Ankle

Have your child sit down and elevate the injured ankle above the heart level. Then, apply an ice pack (or a pack of frozen vegetables) for 15 minutes every hour. Refrain from soaking it in warm water or applying a heating pad as heat can increase swelling and pain! If your child can’t put weigh on the injured ankle or if it’s looking deformed, immediately head to the hospital as this could mean it is broken or dislocated rather than just sprained.

Keep these essential first aid tips in mind the next time your child gets a booboo!