Accidents never come with a warning. Therefore, for parents, it is always advisable to learn first aid for kids. Learning the basics of CPR for children and other first aid remedies can help you deal with emergencies in a more calm and composed manner.
In an emergency, always ensure your child is immediately brought to a pediatric emergency care unit. However, as accidents and emergencies can happen anywhere, you may not always be in the vicinity of a pediatric emergency care hospital. Therefore, providing first aid becomes vital and valuable before being able to reach a hospital or doctor for professional assistance.
Before administering first aid to your child, it is necessary to identify the signs of discomfort. Visible cuts and wounds can be easily identified and treated. However, situations like choking or an allergic reaction may manifest differently for different kids. So, identifying the discomfort in your child and providing appropriate treatment is crucial.
Choking is when your child’s air passage is partially or completely blocked. Choking by food or objects is quite common in toddlers and also young children. In such cases, your child may find it difficult to breathe and may show signs of wheezing, coughing, or difficulty in breathing and talking.
First aid for kids is essential at this point. For choking, the best tip for parents is to perform abdominal thrusts to push or dislodge the object from your child’s airway.
Some children may be allergic to certain ingredients in food that may cause sudden allergic reactions. Difficulty in breathing, face swelling, throat swelling, hives, or a drop in blood pressure may result in an allergic reaction. First aid for kids is essential to prevent aggravated discomfort for your child. Parents must immediately counter the effects of an allergic reaction.
In extreme cases of anaphylaxis or low blood pressure, you may need an epinephrine injection. However, for milder allergic reactions ask your doctor to prescribe an anti-allergic syrup or pills to counter the effects of the allergic reaction.
If your child is unresponsive or does not have a pulse, CPR or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is necessary to resuscitate the child. Learning CPR techniques is a life-saving skill that is always useful. It is advisable to learn CPR for children from experts. Ask your pediatrician for a demonstration of useful CPR techniques.
Another important tip for parents is to be well-prepared to address burn accidents. Burns can cause severe redness, painful blisters, and also skin damage. For first aid for burns, place the affected area under cool running water for a few minutes. Gently the dry the area with a clean cloth and apply burn ointment.
For minor cuts, wounds, and also skin scrapings it is advisable to disinfect the wound and the area around the wound with antiseptic cream and apply proper bandaging techniques.
As parents, the sight of your wounded or hurt child can create a wave of panic. However, it is advisable to remain calm and composed during such situations. Remaining calm is reassuring for your child. Also, a calm and collected mind works better, allowing you to make more informed decisions in emergencies.
First aid is only the immediate care given to your child before secondary or advanced medical care. After providing first aid to your child, always visit a pediatric emergency care unit for advanced medical care. Kinder Hospitals has the best PICU centre in Bangalore providing state-of-the-art medical care for children. Our pediatric department boasts of the best pediatricians in Whitefield, Bangalore.
At Kinder Hospitals, we offer the most advanced healthcare solutions for a myriad of pediatric health issues including pediatric medical emergencies. Top-notch facilities and well-trained emergency doctors ensure our 24/7 emergency department is always ready to serve.
Visit Kinder Hospitals for the best pediatric emergency care in Bangalore.
