A really worthwhile New Year’s Resolution that is easy to keep!

Following the anticipation and excitement of Christmas, January is often the time for reflection and planning for the New Year ahead.

If you’ve been thinking about doing a first aid course for your children, but not yet arranged it, then make 2018 the year you attend a class.

Why attend a first aid class?

As a parent, grandparent or carer there are many times where we are on our own looking after our children, and perhaps even their friends.

Many of us think we would know what to do to help our child with a more common first aid situation – if our child bumped their head, or grazed their knee.  What about if your child burnt themselves – we all know we put water on the wound – but for how long? What do we dress the wound with? (The answer is cool running water for a minimum of 10 minutes and cover with clingfilm before getting them checked by a medical professional).

But what if a child we were caring for started to choke or stopped breathing. A recent survey by St John Ambulance found that the biggest first aid emergency parents fear the most is if their baby stopped breathing.  Yet only 1 in 4 of us would know what to do.  It is a skill which is easy to learn and could potentially save a life. Please make 2018 the year you learn this skill – you will never regret attending a first aid class and one day perhaps incredibly grateful you did.

Watching the videos or reading instructions are great but nothing replaces actually practising the skills and refreshing this if you have attended a first aid class previously.

Many families attend our class again after having their second or third child to refresh their skills.  Like anything, unless we deal with situations regularly then we need reminding of how to deal with it and the opportunity to practice.  After all Childcare professionals with Paediatric First Aid qualifications have to renew this training every 3 years.

Mini First Aid’s Essential Tips:

How to prevent choking:

• Make sure that your children sit down to eat. Adults should do the same.

• Encourage your children to chew their food and not talk while chewing. Make sure adults do the same – your children learn from you.

• Make sure your child always has an adult with them when eating.

• Be prepared to provide first aid if someone is choking.

The technique for choking changes once a child is over the age of one. We practice all of these techniques in our class.  This video link from St John Ambulance demonstrates what to if a baby under the age of one is choking.

 If you suspect meningitis:

• Don’t wait for the rash to appear. Some early symptoms of meningitis are usually fever, vomiting, headache, cold hands and feet, limb pain, pale skin, drowsiness and difficulty waking up.

• The more well-known symptoms such as stiff neck, aversion to bright lights and the non-blanching rash can often appear later on, or not at all.

• Not everyone gets all of these symptoms.

• If your child is unwell and you have any doubts then the advice is to see a medical professional.

Other tips:

• Make sure all adults in contact with your child have been first-aid trained

• Always keep a well stocked first aid kit to hand, both at home and when you are out and about, and that everyone knows where it is.

• Talk to your children about basic and emergency first aid, as even children as young as three can potentially save a life.

When should I do a first aid class?

Did you realise that our classes cover first aid from birth up to puberty? We deliver the class to many parents of primary school aged children as well as new parents and expectant parents.  Many people book on the class after they have witnessed a first aid emergency but it is always better to have prior knowledge.

We believe that learning first aid should be accessible to all. Which is why the majority of our classes are where we come to you – we teach families, groups of friends with babies, expectant families all in the comfort of your own home.  We just ask for a minimum of 6 people. We have had classes where the host provides prosecco and pizza for their friends and others with coffee and cake!

If you prefer you can book onto one of our regular local open classes.  Your pre-crawling baby is very welcome to come with you and the classes are kept small and relaxed so you won’t miss anything (and if you do just let us know!)

This is one worthwhile New Year’s Resolution which you can achieve.

Visit Mini First Aid Leeds, Harrogate, Wetherby and Wakefield Website or Facebook Page for further information.

For a summary of upcoming classes click here.