10 Ways to Teach Children about Basic First Aid
Whether you are on holidays with the kids or at home, accidents and injuries are an unfortunate fact of life; cuts, scratches, bruises, fevers and insect bites, etc., with children, it’s a continuous affair. Thus, it’s not enough knowing how to use it yourself. It is imperative that the kids are equipped with the knowledge of using first aid kit. Here 10 Ways to Teach Children about Basic First Aid.
Share these 10 easy first aid lessons with your kids, so that they can be their own heroes:
- Calling for help. In India, kids should know how to dial 108. This one skill alone is HUGE. If kids can calmly call 108, the operator can often walk them through other things that need to be done. Explain them how to describe the incident and the whereabouts patiently.
- Finding a First Aid Kit. Children should know where to find a first aid kit in their environment, such that they can access it easily.
- Understanding the Kit. Won’t happen all in a day, but gradually, start teaching your kids the application of items inside the kit.
- Controlling bleeding. Severe bleeding can quickly become life threatening. Teach children to control bleeding using the kit or a piece of cloth. Make sure they understand the science behind it.
- Avoiding Infections. Explain the kids, how infection works and they can prevent it by keeping a wound clean.
- Understanding Medication. Kids should understand the different medicines that are usually available inside a first aid kit. Most importantly, teach them how to recognise pain killers.
- Escape in case of fire. Make the kids practice if the kids catch their clothes on fire, they need to put them out immediately. You should also teach them how to extinguish flames in the event that their clothing should catch on fire.
- In case of broken bones. Teach the kids to recognise the signs of a bone injury, they are usually a lot more painful than strains and need to be dealt with very carefully.
- Dealing with allergy. Recognise the signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as difficulty in breathing, swollen tongue and throat, itchy or swollen eyes, blotchy skin, feelings of panic and signs of shock.
- Treating Burns. Teach your children to cool any burn injuries under cold running water for at least ten minutes. If they can treat themselves immediately, they stand a better chance of minimising the ultimate damage from the injury.
Educating your children on this matter will not only be beneficial to them, but will also bring you peace. What would be a great way to start? Help them build their own first aid kit.
