First Aid Basics Every Parent Should Know

Why Every Parent Should Know Basic First Aid

Accidents and medical emergencies involving children can happen anywhere and at any time. The minutes before emergency services arrive are often the most critical, and a parent who knows what to do can genuinely save a life or prevent a minor incident from becoming a serious one. Despite this, research consistently shows that most parents have never taken a first aid course and feel uncertain about how to respond in a medical emergency.

This guide covers the core first aid knowledge every parent should have. It is not a substitute for hands-on first aid training, which teaches the practical skills alongside the knowledge and is strongly recommended for all parents and carers. Many organisations offer paediatric first aid courses, and investing a day or two in that training is one of the most valuable things a parent can do.

The Primary Survey: DR ABC

In any emergency, the first step is to assess the situation safely. A widely taught framework is DR ABC:

• D - Danger: Check for danger to yourself and the child. Do not approach if it is unsafe to do so.
• R - Response: Check whether the child is conscious. Call their name, tap their shoulders gently. Are they responding?
• A - Airway: If unconscious, open the airway by tilting the head back and lifting the chin to ensure the airway is clear.
• B - Breathing: Look, listen, and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds.
• C - Circulation / Compressions: If the child is not breathing normally, begin CPR and call emergency services immediately.

CPR for Children

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) keeps oxygenated blood moving to the brain when the heart has stopped or is not pumping effectively. The technique differs slightly for babies and children:

For babies (under 1 year): Give 5 rescue breaths first. Use two fingers on the centre of the chest for compressions. Compress by about one third of the chest depth. Give 30 compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute, then 2 rescue breaths. Repeat until help arrives or the baby recovers.

For children (1 year to puberty): Give 5 rescue breaths first. Use one or two hands on the lower half of the breastbone. Compress by one third of the chest depth. Give 30 compressions then 2 rescue breaths. Repeat until help arrives.

Call emergency services as soon as it is clear the child is unresponsive and not breathing, ideally by asking a bystander to call while you begin CPR. If alone, give one minute of CPR before calling.

This is a summary only: hands-on training with a mannequin is essential for developing real competence in CPR.

Choking

Choking is a leading cause of accidental death in young children. A child who is coughing forcefully is not choking: encourage the cough and monitor. A child who cannot cough, cry, or speak, or who is making high-pitched noises while visibly distressed, is choking and requires immediate intervention.

For a baby under 1 year: Hold face-down along your forearm with the head lower than the body. Give up to 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Turn face-up and give up to 5 chest thrusts using two fingers on the centre of the chest. Repeat and call emergency services if the obstruction does not clear.

For a child over 1 year: Lean the child forward and give up to 5 back blows between the shoulder blades. If ineffective, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts (Heimlich manoeuvre). Repeat the cycle. Call emergency services if the obstruction does not clear or the child loses consciousness.

Severe Bleeding

For serious wounds with heavy bleeding: apply firm, direct pressure to the wound using a clean cloth or dressing. Maintain pressure without lifting the cloth to check. If blood soaks through, add more material on top. Elevate the injured area above the level of the heart if possible. Call emergency services for any severe or uncontrolled bleed. Do not attempt to remove embedded objects.

Burns

For burns: run cool (not cold) water over the burn for at least 10 to 20 minutes. Do not use ice, butter, toothpaste, or any other substance on a burn. Remove any clothing or jewellery near the burn unless it is stuck to the skin. Cover loosely with cling film or a clean non-fluffy material such as a plastic bag. Seek medical attention for any burn larger than the child palm, any burn on the face, hands, genitals, or feet, any deep or chemical burn, or any electrical burn.

Head Injuries

Most childhood head bumps are minor and do not require emergency treatment. Seek urgent medical attention if, following a head injury, the child: loses consciousness even briefly, has a seizure, vomits more than once, cannot be woken normally, has a severe or worsening headache, has unequal pupils or visual disturbance, has clear fluid from the nose or ears, or their behaviour or speech changes significantly.

Febrile Convulsions

Febrile convulsions (seizures triggered by high fever) occur in approximately 3 to 5 percent of children between 6 months and 5 years and can be terrifying to witness. During the convulsion: stay calm, note the time, place the child on their side if possible, clear the space around them, do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth. Most febrile convulsions stop within 5 minutes. Call emergency services if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, the child does not recover fully, or this is the first seizure the child has had.

Anaphylaxis

If a child has a known severe allergy and is showing signs of anaphylaxis (throat swelling, breathing difficulty, collapsing, pale or grey skin), administer their prescribed adrenaline auto-injector immediately, then call emergency services. Lay the child flat with legs raised if they are not having breathing difficulties, or sit them up if they are. A second auto-injector may be given after 5 minutes if symptoms do not improve. Go to hospital even if symptoms improve after the injection.

Getting Trained

Reading about first aid is a starting point, but it is not a substitute for hands-on training. Paediatric first aid courses are available in most countries from organisations including the Red Cross, St John Ambulance, and national equivalents. Most courses take one to two days and cover all the above skills in practical depth. Refreshing training every three years is recommended. The confidence and competence gained from proper training can be the difference between life and death.