There are so many dangers out there that we don't even think about until you hear the stories from Paramedics who encounter insane situations every single day. As part of my offering of helpful hints, tips, tricks and other advice, I joined forces with Jess Peters, the owner of the South East Queensland Rescue Blue to bring you some advice on what to do in an emergency.
Jess went through why it is important that we, as parents, caregivers, baby sitters etc know CPR, but more importantly, baby and children CPR. There are differences on every age group.
Before I get started, you should know that Jess has an upcoming Little Aid Course on Saturday 28 November at 10am. It will be at the Seven Hills Hub. To book: www.rescueblue.com.au
I've already done First Aid, why should I do Paediatric CPR Courses?
Some courses only touch on babies very generally, but there are important differences between adult CPR and babies. For example, Jess advised that the position on where you put your hands is very different depending on whether its a baby, toddler, small child and older children / adult. There are also medical emergencies that are more common in children then there are in adults that we need to know how to respond. Jess provided the example of Croup is a big one that she sees in children but not so much adults. Having knowledge of Paediatric emergencies as opposed to adult emergencies.
Why do you think we have a lack of education in Paediatric CPR?
Combination of thinking things won't happen to us, or if we have done a general first aid course then we will know what to do. Another thing is, mums and dads are purely just busy! While it's important, there is so much information we are overloaded with as new parents that Paed CPR gets put on the back burner.
Tips for Burns
Jess explained that burns are quite common, with over 40% of presentations to hospital with children who have been burnt being as a result of scolding burns. Coffee is essential, but not that essential!
The things that you do in the first few minutes of a burn situation can really impact the end result. Jess explained that the actions we take initally can help reduce the requirement for a skin graft. A cup of tea at 60 degrees is enough to cause a 3rd degree burn instantly.
Treating Scolding burns while waiting for the Paramedics:
Remove all their clothes, including the diaper. If you leave the diaper on, they will end up sitting in the hot water. The only time Jess cautions this is if they are so burnt that the clothes are stuck to their skin, in which case just leave the clothes on.
Get the child into the shower under running cold water for 20 minutes. Needs to be 20 minutes to stop the burn from burning!
Go to the kitchen and get out the cling wrap and take a strip and lay it length ways down the burn, don't wrap around the burn.
What to do in the case of a drowning?
Any body of water is such a danger to little children and babies, including a melted ice bucket or cooler!It doesn't just have to be a pool or a beach, it can be the bath, a dog water bowl or a filled sink. Kids have small lungs and it doesn't take a lot of water to actually fill their lungs. Can you believe there has been a spike in drowning incidents since the invention of mobile phones?! It makes total sense, right? We are constantly posting on social media which should never take precedence over watching our kids.
PREVENTION TIPS
Go home and have a look at your house and see if there are
Bath drowning - start taking out the plug at the same time as the baby is out. Make it a game to watch the water go down so you don't have the water left over.
Don't get complacent! Just because there are more people there, such as at a mothers group etc, doesn't mean that there are more eyes on the kids, more often times it means there is less attention.
Setup a rotation roster where one parent is to step away from the group for 15 minutes without their phone just to watch the kids in the water and rotate around. These accidents happen so quickly and so silently that this provides the extra level of protection.
THE FIRST STEPS TO TAKE
Ensure that you are not in danger, make the area safe before being distracted
Send for help first - there is no good trying things without anyone knowing you even need help and no one is on the way
Rescue Blue runs Little Aid courses for mums and caregivers both in private groups at home or out in public. If you would like to sign up for a private course in your own home or attend one of the public courses, check out their details below!
Email Jess directly at: brisbane@rescueblue.com.au
Check out the Instagram page at: www.instagram.com/rescueblue_littleaid
コメント