Mothers protect their children spiritually, emotionally, and socially. But can you physically protect your children? Here are some basic first aid skills every mother should know.
We are a first responder family. My husband has been serving our area for 10 years on 911 ambulances. That means when someone needs medical help, he is the one they call!
Luckily for me, I learned second-hand what needs professional medical attention and what can be treated at home.
Mothers protect their children spiritually, emotionally, and socially. But we sometimes fail to prioritize how we can protect our children physically. If they do get injured, here are a few basic first aid skills that might help.
Pin this post for later!
Photo by Nathan Dumlao via Unsplash.
This Isn’t a First Aid Course
None of the information in this blog post is intended to cure or treat any illness or injury you or a family member may sustain. It’s your responsibility to understand what your family needs and when to seek medical attention.
The information in this blog post is just that – information.
Here are a few basic first aid skills mothers should know.
Essential First Aid Skills
Cleaning a wound, bandaging a wound, and medication dosing are at the top of my list when it comes to skills moms need. These are the three you will likely come into contact with most often. Every child will fall down and scrape a knee or need the proper medication to get them through an illness.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), recognizing the signs of an allergic reaction, and choking relief are the next three skills I would focus on. Again, these are the three you will likely come into contact with most often. And in the seconds after something tragic happens, how you respond with your skills can change the outcome.
I go over CPR and allergic reactions later in the blog post, so for now, let’s highlight choking relief.
Choking Relief
Choking relief can help everyone from your husband to your toddler. Toddlers are notorious for taking bites that are too big for them. Adults can easily choke on meat, candy, and popcorn.
You can help a choking child by alternating between back blows and chest compressions. For older children, you can implement the Heimlich maneuver.
You may find that taking a CPR class in your area can prove to be incredibly beneficial, as the age of your child matters for when you transition away from back blows to the Heimlich maneuver. A class in your area will also teach you proper technique and the level of force.
Keep a Well-Stocked First Aid Kit
Your first aid kit should represent your everyday life. What do I mean by that?
If you have a gas stove or cook a lot, it would be wise to have what you need to treat burns in your first aid kit. The same idea goes for medications for preexisting conditions or allergies. That aspect of your life doesn’t go away in an emergency, and you want to make sure you have what you need on hand to treat it!
If you have boys who are rough and tumble or love to play hard outside, consider keeping butterfly bandages, wound cleaning supplies, and ice packs on hand.
Take a look at your life and ask yourself, “If an injury, specific to our lifestyle, occurs, do I have what I need to treat it?”
Pin this post for later!
Photo by Kristine Wook via Unsplash.
Pursue Hands-On Training
Responding to medical emergencies takes time, care, attention, and most importantly, training.
My husband has been serving our community for 10 years on an emergency ambulance, and he is always in training to better understand updates in science, equipment, and care practices. If the medical professionals in your area are staying up to date on training, how much more should you be training?
You can find fire departments, hospitals, or independent medical agencies in your area that may host training opportunities for things like CPR classes, stroke assessments, or even heart attack response.
Just a simple CPR course can go a long way in helping you prepare to save a child’s life.
New parents, don’t sleep on this! As your child ages, CPR techniques change. CPR training is such an incredible skill!
The two most popular organizations, the Red Cross and the American Heart Association, offer search options on their websites so you can find a class. Do you know of others who host classes nationwide? Comment on this blog post and let me know!
Understand Signs of an Allergic Reaction
Signs and severity of an allergic reaction are going to vary person to person. But overall, someone having an allergic reaction may experience difficulty breathing, swelling, hives, and other irritation, like stomach cramps, diarrhea, and itchy eyes or throat.
Simply knowing the signs is a step in the right direction. If you or a family member experiences signs of an allergic reaction, seek medical attention and treat accordingly.
Common Injuries Moms Can Treat
You can be prepared to treat minor injuries at home. Do you research, prepare your medicine cabinet, and move forward in confidence!
Minor Burns
A minor burn only affects the outer layers of the skin. They may cause some discomfort or minor pain, swelling, redness, and even blistering. Although they’re uncomfortable and not fun to deal with, they can be treated at home.
If you or a family member sustains a burn, place the burn under cool, running water for up to 10 minutes. Consider treating with aloe vera or mild soap and a gauze patch. If there are blisters, don’t pop them!
Insect Bites
This advice applies to situations where an allergy is not present.
For the most part, insect bites are an inconvenience. If you do notice your child itching or complaining of an insect bite, take note of where the bite is, how big it is, and monitor it for changes over time. It’s also helpful to know what bit your child.
For a tick bite, remove the tick, place it in a plastic baggie, write the date on the bag, and stick the baggie in the freezer. If your child reacts, you can identify the type of tick and the date of the bite.
Bee Sting
Unless you are dealing with a bee allergy, you can treat bee stings at home.
The most common practice is to remove the stinger, wash with soap and water, and monitor for changes.
Minor Cuts
Minor cuts are an inch or shorter and shallow, usually barely breaking the skin. Minor cuts don’t bleed for very long, or they stop bleeding with gentle pressure. If your cut meets those criteria, there’s a good chance it can be safely managed at home.
With any minor cut, it’s wise to wash your hands and wash the cut before applying any antiseptic or Band-Aids. Keep cuts clean!
Mild Reactions
A mild reaction is going to have a different presentation for different people, and the handling of at-home reactions should be discussed with your medical provider.
Reactions can be prevented with allergy tests and slowed with over-the-counter antihistamines. Remember – medication dosing is critical! Always talk to a trusted healthcare provider when talking about medication dosing.
Pin this post for later!
Photo by Nathan Dumlao via Unsplash.
When to Call Emergency Services
There are going to be injuries or situations that are out of your control. It’s important that you know what those are, so you know when to call for professional help!
This is by no means an exhaustive list. We have talked about injuries that are relevant to your lifestyle and allergic reactions, and those can factor into calling emergency services. Stay aware and prepared! When you understand the extent of your capabilities to treat injuries and illnesses, you can move forward with treatment or call emergency services with confidence.
Head Injuries
There is too much at stake when your kiddo takes a fall on their noggin. Don’t try to wait it out – take your child in to be seen!
Spinal Injury
Falls and sports injuries are notorious for producing spinal injuries. Unfortunately, children are great at getting injured during both.
Luckily, spinal cord injuries in children are rare (this Canadian study and others estimate it’s about 18 injuries per 1 million children per year), but they are serious. Always seek professional medical attention for spinal injuries.
Broken Bone
Bones must be set properly to heal properly. If, for any reason, you think your child has suffered a broken bone, do not wait for them to get the care they need! Worst-case scenario, you pay for an unnecessary X-ray, but you know your child will be okay.
First Step is Education
When you know a few basic first aid skills, you will have the confidence to conquer stressful situations. Even in simple situations, you will have everything you need on hand.
From new parents to seasoned parents, what did I miss? Comment on this blog post and let me know!
This is out of the ordinary for what I usually write about on the blog. For more homemaking inspiration, follow me on Pinterest or sign up for my email newsletter!
Leave a Reply