In a survey of over 2000 parents, 96% agreed that all parents should have some first aid knowledge yet two thirds don’t feel confident, or worry they would do something wrong. The study identified the main fears of parents were choking, treating an unconscious baby or child and meningitis.
‘The British Red Cross throws down the gauntlet to parents
to take the First Aid Challenge’
The British Red Cross is launching the first UK-wide first aid campaign aimed at parents to help them learn the techniques needed in an emergency. The new nationwide campaign to get all parents learning first aid and begins at the Earls Court Baby Show on the 26 October 2012 and runs to the end of the year.
With over 24,000 parents expected at to attend the Baby Show, the British Red Cross are launching the challenge then with training sessions running hourly. Signing up the the First Aid Challenge is free and each participant will receive information on how to deal with daily mishaps.
For more information, visit the British Red Cross. You can also find tips on what to do in an emergency. For instance, would you know what to do if your child was choking? Here’s a short video to show you how to handle the situation:
With over 24,000 parents expected at to attend the Baby Show, the British Red Cross are launching the challenge then with training sessions running hourly. Signing up the the First Aid Challenge is free and each participant will receive information on how to deal with daily mishaps.
For more information, visit the British Red Cross. You can also find tips on what to do in an emergency. For instance, would you know what to do if your child was choking? Here’s a short video to show you how to handle the situation:
- Give up to five back blows. Hit them firmly on their back between the shoulder blades. If back blows do not dislodge the object, move on to step two.
- Give up to five abdominal thrusts. Hold the child around the waist and pull upwards and inwards above their belly button. If abdominal thrusts do not dislodge the object, repeat steps one and two.
- Call 999 if the object if the object has not dislodged after three cycles of back blows and abdominal thrusts.
For a baby (a child under the age of 1) the steps are slightly different, see this video:
- Give up to five back blows. Hold the baby face down along your forearm with their head lower than their bottom. Hit them firmly on their back between the shoulder blades.
- Give up to five chest thrusts. Turn the baby over so they are facing upwards and place two fingers in the middle of their chest just below the nipples. Push inwards and upwards up to five times. If chest thrusts do not dislodge the object, repeat steps one and two
- Call 999 if the object has not dislodged after three cycles of back blows and chest thrusts
The British Red Cross has many video’s on how to deal with each situation. They can be viewed here.
We all hope this will never happen to our children but if it did, would you be prepared?
I did a first aid course for babies and children a few years ago when Spud was little but I think it would be nice to have a refresher and thankfully I haven't had to use my knowledge as yet.
Kate @scattymumofboys
Good to see this blog. I am glad that such survey was conducted. It is very important to learn first aid courses, especially for the parents who have small babies. With small children, a person cannot take a risk of waiting for a professional in emergency situations. So, it is always better that young parents should take first aid training at initial stages.
On the basis of my experience, I can say that learning any course becomes interesting if the environment and the trainer has a positive attitude. And teaching anything with practical implementation helps in remembering the particular point for long time.