Paediatric First Aid Training (0-18years)

In this video we will look at what your role is as a first aider and how to address the fears and concerns someone might have in the administration of first aid.

In this video we will address the fear of infection. Especially in the current climate with COVID -19 still prevalent we need to ensure we as first aiders are kept safe. We will talk about how to minimise the risk of infection with appropriate PPE and hand washing.

Learn how to wash your hands correctly , make sure you download the attached sheet and practice!

TASK: First Aid Guidelines 

Have a look at the guidelines from the external resources attached. 

What size first aid kit do you need? Investigate and make sure you have the correct size first aid kit and all supplies are correct and in date.

When you are watching this video we will be encouraging you to practice on yourself or on another (or maybe a teddy or pillow).

Download the resources attached to help you and remember to start and stop the video as often as you like.

Practice the recovery position on both sides - and if you have a casualty, ask them to be floppy and act like a sack of potatoes (if you let go of their hand they should just flop it back to the floor again)!

Practice makes perfect!

Make sure you download the resources attached and also watch the external video on how to set up What 3 Words.

Learn how to call the EMS and what to tell them as well as how to prepare for their arrival.

Have a look at the attached resources to set up the text service for the EMS especially useful if you are hearing impaired (UK) and the silent 55 resource (useful if you can't speak).

Watch the attached video on agonal gasps so you can identify what normally breathing doesn't look like. Remember if someone is unresponsive and the are not breathing like you and I are right now then they aren't breathing normally and CPR must begin.

Video

This video recaps the primary survey and demonstrates how to perform CPR on a child casualty with the use of an AED

Make notes. 

INFORMATION

A sudden burst of excess electrical activity in the brain - causing a temporary disturbance. A seizure also called a convulsion or fit consists of involuntary contractions of many of the muscles in the body.

Some people may have absence seizures

Signs and Symptoms 

• Sudden loss of consciousness

• Possible loss of bladder control

• Casualty becomes rigid

• Saliva may appear

• Convulsive movements begin

Treatment

• Allow them to have their seizure

• Protect the casualty to make sure they do not injury themselves more - protect the head

• Note what time the seizures started

• Once the seizure has stopped place them in the recovery position if they are breathing

When to dial 999

• Call 999 if the casualty is unconscious for more than 10 minutes

• Having repeated seizures

• If it is the casualty first seizure

• If they seizure lasts more than 5 mins

TASK:

Watch the video

Practical activity

Practical

With a family friend or family member practice the sequence for a adult / child and use the worksheet to help you.

Please DO NOT perform back slaps or abdominal thrusts on anyone alive because you can cause serious internal bleeding.

However practice the placements of the hands to you know how perform the back slaps and the abdominal thrusts.

In order to practice the baby procedure, you can use a cushion or a doll.

Practical

In order to practice the baby procedure, you can use a cushion or a doll.

Baby

1. Give up to five back blows

2. Give up to five chest thrusts

3. Call EMS can repeat

In this video I will be showing you how to treat different types of wounds. After watching the video have a practice using a bandage or a scarf / tie if you do not have a bandage to hand.

Animal Bites and Stings

Bites from sharp, pointed teeth cause deep puncture wounds. This can damage tissues and let germs into the skin, so you need to treat any bite that breaks the skin, to stop it getting infected.

One infection someone might get from an animal bite is rabies, which is a serious viral infection that attacks the brain and nervous system. If an infected animal bites a human, they will pass on the virus, through their saliva.

Almost all cases of rabies happen abroad. If someone hasn’t been vaccinated, then rabies is nearly always fatal, so you need to send the casualty to hospital straight away.

Tetanus (a bacterial infection) is also a potential risk after an animal bite.

What you need to do - Animal bites

• Wash the wound from the bite thoroughly with soap and warm water. This will reduce the risk of infection from an animal bite.

• Raise and support the wound and pat it dry, preferably with clean gauze from your first aid kit. Then cover it with a sterile wound dressing.

• If the wound is large or deep, then treat for bleeding and call 999/112 for an ambulance.

• If you think there’s a risk of rabies, then you need to get them to hospital as fast as you can.

• If the wound is dirty or they’re not sure if there if they’ve had a tetanus jab, then tell them to see their doctor.

If the bite is from another human, there’s also a small risk of getting hepatitis or HIV/AIDS viruses. This is much more unlikely but they should still see a doctor, in case.

Insect stings

Insect stings from a bee, wasp or hornet can be painful but are usually not dangerous. First there is a sharp pain, followed by mild swelling, redness and soreness.

Sometimes they can cause the body to have a severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock), so it’s important to look out for this and get medical help quickly if necessary.

What to look for

There are four things to look for:

1. 1. Redness

2. 2. Swelling

3. 3. Itchiness

4. 4. Stinging pain

What you need to do

If you can see the sting, brush or scrape it off sideways. (Don’t use tweezers to try and pull it out, or you could squeeze more poison into the wound).

Put an ice pack or something cold on the wound to reduce the swelling and raise the part of the body that's affected. If the sting is in the mouth or throat, get them to suck an ice cube or sip cold water.

Keep checking the casualty's breathing, pulse and level of response.

If you notice any signs of an allergic reaction ‒ such as breathing difficulties or reddened, swollen itchy skin, particularly to the face or neck ‒ call 999 or 112 for emergency medical help.

INFORMATION

There are different types of fractures:

Closed Fractures

Open Fractures

Complicated Fractures

Greenstick Fractures

What to look for - Broken bones and fractures

The seven things to look for are:

1. 1. Swelling

2. 2. Difficulty moving

3. 3. Movement in an unnatural direction

4. 4. A limb that looks shorter, twisted or bent

5. 5. A grating noise or feeling

6. 6. Loss of strength

7. 7. Shock

What you need to do - Broken bones and fractures

• If it is an open fracture, cover the wound with a sterile dressing and secure it with a bandage. Apply pressure around the wound to control any bleeding.

• Support the injured body part to stop it from moving. This should ease any pain and prevent any further damage.

• Once you’ve done this, call 999 or 112 for medical help. While waiting for help to arrive, don’t move them unless they’re in immediate danger.

Waiting for medical help to arrive

Protect the injured area by using bandages to secure it to an uninjured part of the body to stop it from moving. For example, fractures on the arm can be secured with a sling, and a leg with a fracture can be tied to the uninjured leg.

Keep checking the casualty for signs of shock This does not mean emotional shock, but is a life-threatening condition, often caused by losing blood.

If they lose responsiveness at any point, open their airway, check their breathing and prepare to treat someone who’s become unresponsive 

TASK:

Watch the video and download attached resource

INFORMATION

A head injury can be potentially deadly. There are two types of head injuries; concussion, and compression. Concussion is when your brain rattles around inside your skull, and compression is a swelling on the brain.  Compression is the most serious but the signs and symptoms are very similar and it is not for the job of the first aider to diagnose. You must treat for the most serious.

Signs and Symptoms

• Problems with vision 
• Headaches
• Sickness - feeling sick
• Sleepy when shouldn't be
• Unconsciousness/dizziness
• Pupils different sizes
• Lumps

How to treat a head injury

• Check them over
• Advice them the symptoms can occur up to 48 hours and if in doubt to seek medical attention (tell parents)
• Dont let them sleep if they normally don't sleep at that time of day
• If serious - seek medical help

When to call 999?

• If they are knocked out 
• Skull fracture
• Always advice any baby or child to go to hospital and any adult who lives by themselves or over 55.

TASK:

Download the attached materials and resources

INFORMATION

Foreign Bodies in nose and ear

In first aid terms a foreign body is an object of any size that  enters the body through an orifice such as the ears, nose or  mouth or when an object penetrates the skin such as a splinter 

A foreign body may enter the body by accident such as an insect or it is not uncommon for children to play and to place small objects in their ear or  up their nose

Any foreign object that enters the ear can damage the eardrum or canal

Depending on the object it can cause temporary or permanent damage

Treatment in the nose

• Ask them to breathe through their mouth - DO NOT ASK THEM TO BLOW as they will sniff and make it worse..

• Seek Medical attention

Treatment in the ear

Seek Medical attention

Foreign Bodies in eyes

The most common foreign objects found in the eyes are:

Particles of grit , Dust, Loose eyelashes, Contact lenses 

Any eye injury is potentially serious and can result in damage, infection or in extreme cases, blindness. 

Treatment

• Never attempt to remove a foreign body if it is on the coloured part of the eye or embedded in the eyeball

• Seek medical attention.

INFORMATION:

The muscles of the air passages contract and go into spasm as a result making it difficult to breathe out.

TASK:

In order to feel what a asthma suffer feels like when they are having an attack, place a straw in your mouth and breathe in through your nose for 5 seconds and out through the straw for 2 seconds, repeat. How do you feel? You will probably feel some of the symptoms of a asthma sufferer.  PLEASE STOP, DONT MAKE YOURSELF FEEL ILL.

INFORMATION:

Signs and Symptoms: 

• Difficulty in breathing

• Wheezing

• Difficulty in speaking

• Coughing

• Distress/anxiety

• Blue tinge to lips

Treatment

• Allow them to take their inhaler (the reliever - normally with blue caps)

• Keep the chest open - shoulders back and down

• Blow out for longer than in

• Help the casualty use their inhaler and encourage the use of their spacer.

Things you should never do when someone is having an asthma attack:

• Never leave them alone

• Never take them to colder air

Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes that cover the spinal cord and brain (the meningitis). Meningitis is usually caused by a virus or bacteria and the resulting inflammation can cause damage to the spinal cord and brain

Viral meningitis is the most common and not usually life threatening however bacterial meningitis is less common but more serious, potentially life threatening and can cause severe brain damage.

Signs and Symptoms

Headache that can be severe

Generally feeling unwell/Fever

Fatigue and irritability

Stick neck and joint an muscle pain

Dislike of bright lights

Convulsions/seizures

A rash that does NOT fade when a glass is rolled over

Bulging or tense soft spot on the baby head Drowsy, floppy and unresponsive 

Unusual crying (high pitched), moaning

Treatment

If the rash appears (DO NOT WAIT FOR THE RASH TO APPEAR) - call 999

If you are in doubt seek medical help urgently

Burns

Information:

A severe allergic reaction of the body’s immune system. It causes chemicals to be released in the blood which widen the blood vessels and cause air passages to narrow. If someone is struggling to breathe they need their medication to relax the airways.  The medication they need is an auto injectorpen.  There are currently three types the market - the Jext, Epi pen and the new one on the market, the emerade pen.  The Jext and Epi pen work the same way.  The emerade is less confusing as it only has one end, the cap covers the needle.  

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE EMERADE HAS JUST BEEN RECALLED HERE IN THE UK AND IS NO LONGER IN USE IN THE UK. IF YOU HAVE ONE PLEASE CHANGE IT AT A CHEMIST NOW

Signs and Symptoms

• Breathing becomes difficult

• Blotchy patches on the skin

• Swelling around the face

• Feeling of terror

Treatment

• 999 instantly

• Ask if they have an epi pen 

• Help the casualty sit in a comfortable position

• Monitor vital signs until more qualified help arrives.

TASK: Watch the video and download the leaflets on how to use each pen

Thank you for completing this online course. I would always encourage you to complete a practical classroom course so you can practice the skills on resuscitation manikins and other first aid equipment and be given real time feedback from an instructor, 

I hope you have found the information useful and has enabled you to feel more confident if an emergency situation every arose.

All the best.

Keep safe and well.