British Red Cross: First Aid Tips for Easter
British Red Cross: First Aid Tips for Easter
Easter is just around the corner, and along with fluffy chicks and a visit from the Easter bunny comes the excitement of sweet treats. However, with little ones eager to get their hands on the chocolate, the chance of choking becomes a real risk in childcare settings and at home. Share our handy first aid tips with your team and carers to help a baby or child who is choking.
Helping a baby (less than one year old) who is choking:
1. Give up to five back blows: hold the baby face-down along your thigh with their head lower than their bottom. Hit them firmly on their back between the shoulder blades up to five times, checking the mouth between each back blow. If back blows do not dislodge the blockage, move on to step 2.
2. Give up to five chest thrusts: turn the baby over so they are facing upwards, still lying on your thigh with their head lower than their bottom. Place two fingers in the middle of their chest just below the nipples. Push sharply downwards up to five times.
3. Call 999 (or get someone else to do it) if the blockage does not dislodge.
4. Continue with cycles of five back blows and five chest thrusts and follow the guidance of the 999 ambulance operator.
Helping a child (one year to puberty) who is choking:
1. Give up to five back blows: hit them firmly on their back between the shoulder blades, checking the mouth between back blows. If back blows do not dislodge the object, move on to step 2.
2. Give up to five abdominal thrusts: hold the child around the waist and pull inwards and upwards above their belly button.
3. Call 999 (or get someone else to do it) if the blockage does not dislodge.
4. Continue with cycles of five back blows and five abdominal thrusts and follow the guidance of the 999 ambulance operator.
Paediatric first aid training
The EYFS statutory framework was recently updated to differentiate between childminders and group/school-based providers. The framework has also provided clarification that for staff to be included in ratios, they need to hold an up-to-date paediatric first aid qualification. This needs to be renewed every three years. Our two-day Paediatric first aid course gives you the skills and confidence to help a child in an emergency and is available in flexible formats to fit in with your work patterns.
British Red Cross First Aid App
Why not make 2024 the year you brush up on your first aid skills? Share our free app with your team and families, so you’ll always know what to do in case of an emergency.
Please note, the information in this article is provided by the British Red Cross and does not represent the views or opinions of Morton Michel.