Choosing Education Over Experience

Posted on: 25 May 2017

Here are a few first aid tips that you should hold onto and keep in mind when working with children. These tips will help you treat their most common injuries.

#1 Small Scraps and Cuts

One of the biggest types of first aid situations that you are going to run into when working with children are small cuts and scrapes. When this happens, the first thing that you want to do is stop the bleeding. You are going to want to apply a clean cloth to the area with pressure until the bleeding stops. This could take a minute or two, or it could take fifteen minutes, depending on the depth of the cut and where it is. This is normal for small cuts and scrapes.

Once you get the blood stopped, then you need to worry about cleaning the wound, especially if it is dirty. Rinse the area with water until the area is clean and use a little soap if necessary. Then, put a little antibiotic ointment on the cut or scrape, and put a bandage over it.

You should call for assistance when you can't get the bleeding to stop or if a big chunk of skin has been removed.

#2 Nosebleed

Another type of situation that you are likely to run into when working with children are nosebleeds. Some children get them naturally and others get them through accidents. When a child comes to you with a nosebleed, the first thing you need to do is have them sit up straight and then lean forward while you pinch the lower nostrils of their nose. Do this for about five minutes to stop the bleeding.

Do not have them lean backwards. This is old advice that is harmful. Leaning backwards will force the blood back to their nose and potentially down their breathing track. It is best to lean forward with a bloody nose not backwards. If needed, you can put an ice pack on the nose to stop the bleeding as well.

#3 Insect Bite

Insect bites are really common in children as well. If it is something like a mosquito bite, putting some antihistamine on the bite will stop the itching. You can also try putting some ice on the bite.

If a child gets a sting, you should try to remove the stinger using your fingernails, tweezers, or a straight surface that can scrape away the stinger. Don't squeeze the sting, as this could result in more venom being released from the stinger.

If the child is allergic to bees, make sure you know where their Epi-pen is so you can administer it right away.

You should seek extra medical attention if a child in your care experiences excessive swelling, trouble breathing, or gets hives after getting bite or stung by an insect. 

For more first aid experience, contact a company like American Heart Association - AED $40 CPR LLC - Certification Training Classes.