Common Chilhood Accidents

Choking and Suffocation

First aid for a choking infant:lie the infant along your forearm on its front, keeping the head low and supporting it. Give the infant up to five sharp blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of the hand. Turn it onto its back along the other arm . Check the mouth and remove and obvious obstructions. . If they are still choking administer chest thrusts  With two fingertips, give up to five sharp thrusts on the lower part of the breastbone, pressing inwards and upwards. Recheck the mouth. If the infant is still choking continue alternating between back blows and chest thrusts until the airway is cleared, emergency help arrives,or the child becomes unconcious.

First aid for a choking child - encourage the child to cough. If the obstruction is severe and the child can't breathe bend the child forwards and deliver five sharp back blows. Check the mouth and remove any obvious obstruction. If the child is still choking then administer five abdominal thrusts - stand behind th echild and put your fst between the navel and the breastbone. Grasp the fist with the other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards. Recheck the mouth as before and if the child is still choking then alternate between back blows and abdominal thrusts until emergency help arrives, the obstruction is cleared, or the child becomes unconcious.

Burns and Scalds 

The causes of burns and scalds might be hot liquids, fire , hot materials, chemicals, and electricity.

First aid for burns and scalds- Burns and scalds need immediate treatment as this can limit their effect. An infant or young child with any burn needs to go to hospital. Cool the area with gently running cold tap wate; Remove and jewelery, watches, belts or restrictive clothing that isnt stuck to the burn/scald  before swelling occurs. Cover the burn with cling film or place a clean plastic bag over a foot or hand. Cling film should be applied lengthways due to the risk of swelling. Blister plasters should not be used. Blisters and the burned skin should not be interfered with. 

Falls

Falls can cause head injuries. Head injuries are common and can be serious, and can result in unconciousness. they may even require emergency surgery. There are several head injuries which may occur:

Concussion- when the brain is shaken within the skull usually by a blow to the head. Normal brain function is disturbed temporarily but usually followed by a complete recovery.

Cerebral compression - occcurs when pressure build up in the brain. This is usually a result of swelling of injures brain tissue…