Clinicians  working in a family practice are confronted with a huge number of cases of burns, stings, bruises and bites. However, parents have traditionally solved these types of problems without taking their children to an emergency room.

Nowadays, there are amazing first aid kits in the market. Many of them are assembled to meet the needs of families with children or for other specific purposes.

First aid first means safety first

The first thing families with children should learn about is safety. Preventing an accident is better than responding to one. Regarding children, however, we know that is almost impossible to have a completely accident-free environment. Consequently, parents should know something about first aid. First they should remember that children are often not able to express clearly what they feel or what have happen. Perhaps they were injured seriously for first time and therefore parents should learn to analyze the situation without necessarily asking what has happened.

Stings and bites

If you live in a place where insects could sting or bite your child, your first aid kit should include anti-swelling, instant ice packs, pain reliever, aseptic towels and an anti-inflammatory lotion. Remember that the reaction to a sting or a bite can be local (less severe) or systemic, which affects the function of the lungs or the heart. In the latter case, parents should call immediately the emergencies services, since a further diagnosis and treatment is very probably required. Symptoms of a systemic shock are abdominal or chest pain, dizziness, hives and difficulties breathing.

If there is simply a stinger, remove it gently and disinfect the region carefully. Protect it with an adhesive strip for at least one day. If it itches or hurts, an instant ice pack will be of some relief. Just don’t apply it directly to the skin.

Sunburn

Sunburns can equally be avoided but parents cannot completely discard that they will happen. For this case apply compresses or moisturizing gel. Aloe Vera is very effective in this case. If the pain is too intense, ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be used. As in the previous case, search professional medical advice if you think the burn is too severe.

Of course, there are other injuries and ailments that affect your child.  A basic first aid course for infants and children can be a life saver, and can enable the parent to feel more confident in any situation where their children are.

Technorati Tags: basic first aid, first aid, first aid first, first aid first for children, first aid for stings and bites, first aid for sunburn

As we discussed last post, we will continue with the 3 points of basic first aid:

• First – protection. Further damage can occur through mechanical impact, smoke, fire, explosion or electrical hazard. First aid helpers should protect themselves first and foremost, then concentrate on the victim. The location of the accident – if it was an accident – should be clearly signaled to avoid further casualties. Only move the victim if it is absolutely necessary to preserve his life. Moving an injured person can cause serious harm.

• Second – Competent first aid care. Check if the casualty is conscious, breathing, and has a pulse. Lie the casualty down sideways, if that can’t cause further damage. Ask the casualty for any symptoms, if the victim is conscious. This information may be extremely useful if he falls unconscious. In the case of wounds, do NOT remove any large objects from wounds. Treating wounds requires extensive professional training. Search for severe external bleeding and try to stop it. Although treating bleeding requires additional first aid training, any compression of the wound is better than letting the blood flow. Numerous techniques can -and should- be learned by everyone in a first aid help course. Certified first aiders can control bleeding, open the airways, perform CPR and chest compressions and many, many other life saving measures.

• Third – alert the emergency services. Call the emergency services and inform them clearly about the exact location, about what happened, how many persons are involved, and what first aid was provided so far. Try to provide as much relevant information as possible. The address alone sometimes doesn’t suffice. The emergency services have to know exactly where you are within a building.

These are just a few of the suggestions for basic first aid first response on a scene.  It is advisible to seek further first aid training whenever it is offered – the life you save could be your own or your loved ones!

Technorati Tags: basic first aid, basic first aid first, First Aid Training

Today we begin a 2 part post on basic first aid.

Everyone should have a basic understanding about first aid. First aid is the primary assistance given to a casualty in case of sudden illness or accident, before any professional medical assistance can reach the location.

First aid comes first. Any other action should be postponed until the casualty is in the hands of professional medical experts. The first aid assistance is absolutely necessary in order to improve the survival chances, prevent worsening of the condition and mitigate long term damage.

First aid providers should assess the situation and remember three basic point. First, protect the casualty from further external damage. Second, provide basic first aid evaluation and care. Third, alert medical professionals.

Next we will examine these 3 points more closely, ensuring a better understanding of basic first aid first.

Technorati Tags: basic first aid, first aid first, first aid first blog, first aid providers