1. Child Safety and First Aid
Prevention of Accidents and Illness

2. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Safety is the most important responsibility of every parent and caregiver.
This requires: knowledge of child development, a safe environment, alertness to safety hazards, and teaching the child safe habits.
Every age is different because of different abilities and interests.
What you know about child development can help you anticipate hazards.

3. Infants
Infant mortality rate – percentage of deaths during first year of life – has gone from 40% during eighteenth century to about 2% in the US due to medical advances practically eliminating once life-threatening diseases.
Accidents are most serious threat to infants.
Falls cause most injuries to infants, and account for many deaths.
When babies fall, they tend to land head first.
Babies who cannot yet crawl, can fall!! Do not ever leave babies unattended on furniture.

4. More Infant Safety…
Babies like to suck or chew on everything! Because babies can easily choke on small items, keep these away from baby.
Poisoning is also a danger. Everything a baby might put in it’s mouth should be nontoxic (not poisonous).
Plastic bags can cause choking or suffocation.
Never leave small children alone near water – bath, toilet, sink, pond, wading pool, etc. Drowning happens quickly….the phone can wait.

5. A Bit About Accidents
Greatest single cause of death in children ages one and fifteen – car accidents being worst of all accidents.
Almost 1/3 of home accidents involve children under age 4.
Almost 1/5 of children’s accidents take place in the kitchen.
Second leading cause if child accidents is structural features, like stairs or windows.
Third leading cause is kitchen utensils – pans, knives, cups.
At all ages, more males than females are involved.

6. Ages 1-3
Need careful supervision and areas of play checked for safety.
Should not be left unattended for more than a few minutes, even if within hearing distance.
Do tasks while child is sleeping, bring a monitor if needed.
Toddlers need to be guarded against choking as still learning to eat:
Stay seated while eating, take small bites, swallow before eating more, no laughing/talking with food in mouth, chew thoroughly, keep small toys away.

7. Ages 4-6 More unsupervised play – need to learn good safety practices.
Can never rely on young children to remember and follow all appropriate safety rules.
Preschoolers should begin learning his or her address and telephone number. School age children should be able to give this info in an emergency. Teach children how to use phone and important telephone numbers.

8. Immunizations
Routine checkups are necessary to catch illnesses or problems early on.
Immunize – to protect a person against a particular disease.
People can be protected from many communicable diseases – diseases easily passed from person to person – by being immunized.
Vaccine – small amount of an antigen introduced to body, usually by injection, so that the body can build resistance by building up antibodies to that disease.
All common recommended childhood vaccines are for those diseases which were common and can cause serious illness or death.

9. Allergies
Allergy – an oversensitivity to one or more common substances.
Eating, breathing, touching substances such as grass, molds, milk products, pollens, nuts, etc….
Nearly half of all children in the US develop allergies.
Tendency to be allergic is inherited, but not necessarily allergies to specific substances.
Allergic reactions can be life threatening when air sacs in the lungs are constricted and oxygen diminished.
Avoid substances causing allergies, use medication if necessary.

10. Handling Emergencies

11. Guidelines for Fast Action
Remain calm
Evaluate the situation
Make the victim comfortable
Call for help, if symptoms indicate a need.
Give the minimum necessary first aid treatment.

12. Bleeding
Minor cuts/scrapes – clean with soap & water, apply antiseptic and bandage.
Deep cuts – send for medical help if child is pale/bluish, moist skin, or shallow breathing. Try to stop bleeding by applying cloth and keeping elevated. Don’t apply a tourniquet if don’t know how – can cause more damage.
Nosebleeds – have child sit and lean forward, squeeze nose just below nose bone for several minutes.

13. Bumps and Bruises
Treat with cold cloth or ice pack to minimize swelling.
Elevate arm or leg.
If child complains of pain for more than a day, loses consciousness, is drowsy or irritable, complains of headache, or vomits – call a doctor!

14. Burns
First Degree Burns – red and slightly swollen. Too much sun, hot objects, hot water, or steam. Heal rapidly. Use aloe to soothe pain.
Second Degree Burns – remain swollen and moist for several days. Very deep sunburn, hot liquids, flammable products. Need physician.
Third Degree Burns – destroy the skin. Look white or charred, might resemble 2nd degree burns at first. Little pain at first because nerve endings have been destroyed. Caused by flames, burning clothing, hot water, extremely hot objects, electricity. The skin is lost and will not grow back – only scar tissue will cover the area after healing. Requires emergency medical attention.

15. Chemical Burns
Ingestion or skin contact of a chemical. Call poison control, do not remove clothing.
This baby received burns from a chemical found in a brand of sofa. The company was sued for millions.

16. Fainting Loss of consciousness
Children may collapse without warning, or may have symptoms first.
Children faint due to anemia, breathholding, hysteria (extreme excitement), hyperventilation, drug reactions, illness or infection, and poisoning.
Loosen tight clothing, turn head to side, check for breathing, begin artificial respiration if needed, call medical help. If child IS breathing – should regain consciousness in couple of minutes.

17. Rescue Techniques Artificial Respiration CPR
Artificially breathing for someone who has stopped breathing, but heart is still beating.
CPR
Cardio-Pulminary Recussitation
A process of breathing and chest compressions used only when both breathing and heart action have stopped.

18. Safety Scenarios
Discuss the provided scenarios with your table and determine the best solution for each story.
What are the safety issues?
What is the situation?
What steps should be taken?
Was there any way to prevent?

19. Scenario #1 What are the safety issues? What is the situation?
What steps should be taken?
Was there any way to prevent?

20. Scenario #2 What are the safety issues? What is the situation?
What steps should be taken?
Was there any way to prevent?

21. Scenario #3 What are the safety issues? What is the situation?
What steps should be taken?
Was there any way to prevent?