Parenting Club

9 - 18 Months: First Aid

Accidents will happen… and it’s vital that you know
what to do

Insect stings and bites
Febrile convulsions
Tumbles and bumps
Burns and scalds
Nosebleeds
Swallowed chemicals
Choking
Useful information

Insect stings and bites

Don’t try to remove a sting with tweezers or – worse – by picking it out with your fingernails: this could only squeeze more venom in. Instead, scrape off as much of the sting as you can with the edge of a credit card. Expect a little localised swelling after a sting or a bite (treat it with a cold pack) but get medical help at once if your child’s lips or eyes swell up or he starts wheezing.

Febrile convulsions

In some small children, a high fever can bring on a fit (or febrile convulsion). It should only last a few minutes (any more than five, call 999). Don’t try to restrain him while it’s happening. Once it’s over, sponge him down with tepid water and give him an age-appropriate dose of  baby paracetamol (provided he’s over 3 months old) to treat his fever. And call your doctor for advice.

Tumbles and bumps

As soon as your baby becomes mobile, bashing into things and falling over becomes a regular feature of everyday life. The answer: always have a packet of plasters at the ready, and keep a bag of frozen peas in the freezer to wrap in a small towel and use to soothe those poorly bits.

Burns and scalds

A small child’s skin scalds much more easily than an adult’s, so you need to act fast. Hold the affected area under cold, running water for at least 10 minutes (don’t remove any clothes that are stuck to the skin). Then cover with non-fluffy material, such as clingfilm, and take him straight to A&E.

Nosebleeds

The sudden sight of blood can be very frightening for a small child. So, give him a big, reassuring cuddle and try to look completely calm. Then sit him down quietly, and firmly pinch the soft part of his nose (just above his nostrils) for about 10 minutes to make the bleeding stop.

Swallowed chemicals

Don’t make your child sick: what caused damage on the way down can do more on the way back up. And don’t give him a drink, either: some substances are absorbed more quickly into the bloodstream once they’re diluted. Look around to find out what he’s swallowed and how much. Collect any packaging (for identification purposes) and get to hospital fast.

Choking

First, look inside his mouth to see if you can easily remove the object that’s wedged in his throat. If you can’t (don’t poke around blindly)...

For a child under one

Lie him face down along your forearm and give him up to five blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. If the object doesn’t come loose, turn him over and use two fingers to push inwards and upwards up to five times on his breastbone.

For a child over one

Stand behind him and give him up to five blows between the shoulder blades. If the object doesn’t come loose, put your arms around him, place a fist between his navel and breastbone, put your other hand on top and pull inwards and upwards up to five times.

For all ages

Repeat this cycle of back blows and chest thrusts three times; if nothing works, call 999 and continue until help arrives.

Useful information
  • Keep a note by your telephone of your GP’s and your out-of-hours doctor service’s numbers. Above all, trust your instincts: if you think your child is really ill, dial 999 immediately.
  • For 24-hour health advice, try NHS Direct (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk). In England & Wales, call 0845 4647; in Scotland, call 08454 242424
  • Every parent should do a child and infant first-aid course: both the British Red Cross (www.redcross.org.uk/firstaid) and St John’s Ambulance (www.sja.org.uk) run good ones.
  • It’s wise to have a well-stocked first-aid kit, and to make sure you understand how to use what it contains.